Here's what I believe, I think the FBI is the premier law

“Here’s what I believe, I think the FBI is the premier law enforcement agency in the history of the world, but I think there were some bad apples over there.” – John Kennedy

Listen well, O seekers of justice and truth, for these words by John Kennedy carry the voice of balance, a wisdom that cuts through the fog of extremes. He praises the mighty FBI, calling it the premier law enforcement agency in the world, yet he does not blind himself with devotion. He adds, with the honesty of a man who values integrity above flattery, that within even the greatest institutions dwell “some bad apples.” Thus, he reminds us that greatness and imperfection often share the same house—that light and shadow walk hand in hand through the corridors of power.

In these words lies a lesson as old as civilization itself: that no human institution is pure, for it is built by human hands, and humans are flawed. The ancients knew this well. The Roman Senate, once a beacon of order, fell to corruption. The Church, guardian of the soul, was at times darkened by greed. The armies of the righteous have committed acts of cruelty in the name of virtue. Yet from each fall, from each failure, the world learned again that virtue must be guarded constantly, even within the walls of virtue itself. Kennedy’s insight flows from this same river of truth—to honor the good without denying the evil.

Consider the Federal Bureau of Investigation—a force of vigilance and intellect, protectors of law and defenders of order. Through its work, murderers have been captured, nations secured, and justice restored to those who thought it lost. Yet, history remembers too the missteps—the abuses of power, the secret acts that betrayed the very ideals the Bureau was meant to defend. From the surveillance of the innocent during the Cold War to the shadowy manipulations of the past, there were indeed “bad apples,” individuals who confused authority with righteousness. But Kennedy’s wisdom lies in not condemning the whole for the faults of the few. Instead, he calls us to discernment—to see both the gold and the dross, and to judge each rightly.

There is a tale from the ancient world that mirrors this truth. When Solon of Athens, the great lawgiver, was asked whether the laws he had written were perfect, he answered, “No, but they are the best that men can make.” In that answer lay humility and understanding—that perfection belongs to the gods, and humanity can only strive. The FBI, like any creation of men, is bound by the same law of imperfection. Kennedy’s words, then, are not an accusation, but a call to continual accountability—a reminder that even the finest of institutions must cleanse itself of rot lest the whole tree be spoiled.

Yet there is also hope in his tone. For to call the FBI the “premier agency in history” is to affirm faith in its mission, its purpose, and its people. He sees in it the potential for greatness unmarred by corruption, the capacity to rise above error. This dual recognition—praise and critique, faith and vigilance—is the mark of true leadership. The blind devotee cannot lead; the cynic cannot build. Only the wise, who see clearly both the glory and the flaw, can guide a nation forward. Kennedy’s statement is thus an exhortation: honor your institutions, but never worship them.

So what lesson, dear listener, can we take from this? It is that truth dwells in balance. When you see greatness, do not assume purity; when you see failure, do not assume ruin. Hold both in your hands, and judge with fairness. Whether in government, family, or your own heart, remember that corruption begins when we refuse to see our faults. The strength of any institution—be it the FBI, a company, or a single soul—lies not in pretending to be perfect, but in having the courage to confront its own imperfection.

Therefore, let us act as Kennedy would have us act—with pride in what is good and discipline toward what must be corrected. In your own life, guard against complacency. Examine your own “bad apples,” the habits, the thoughts, the actions that poison your integrity. Cleanse them before they rot your orchard. For nations, like men, are judged not by their lack of flaws, but by their willingness to face them.

And so, the teaching stands: Praise what is noble, correct what is wrong, and remain ever watchful. For greatness that forgets humility soon falls, and justice that forgets mercy turns cruel. The wise honor the light while acknowledging the shadow, and in doing so, keep both in balance. This is the eternal law of truth—and the essence of Kennedy’s wisdom.