"In the Soviet Union it was illegal to take a photograph of a train station. Look what happened to them. They tried to classify everything"

Tom Clancy's quote reviews the more comprehensive themes of secrecy, control, and the consequences of excessive regulation and info suppression. At its core, this statement critiques the practices of the Soviet Union, particularly its fondness for intense secrecy and stringent control over info.

In the Soviet Union, numerous relatively common elements of life were shrouded in secrecy, consisting of something as ordinary as taking photos of train stations. This policy was emblematic of a wider system that greatly restricted the totally free circulation of info. By forbiding photography at such places, the Soviet regime tried to wield control over what could be seen, shared, and known by the public and potentially by foreign entities.

Clancy's observation, "Look what happened to them", points to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union, recommending that the excessively secretive and restrictive technique to governance added to its downfall. The phrase highlights the fundamental dangers of an excessively categorized society. By seeking to manage all info, the Soviet government stifled creativity, innovation, and openness-- qualities required for a thriving society.

The core message is that severe secrecy can be self-destructive. By categorizing whatever, the Soviet program not just alienated its population however also developed an information bottleneck. This constraint avoided the totally free exchange of concepts internally and externally, causing a lack of problem-solving abilities and isolation from global improvements.

This quote works as a cautionary tale about the dangers of over-classification and mistrust. It alerts that societies or governments that attempt to control whatever may eventually deteriorate themselves. Openness, openness, and the totally free exchange of info are implied to be integral for progress and sustainability. Clancy's declaration is both a reflection on past geopolitical dynamics and a classic tip of the value of balance in between security and openness.