I take four planes a week, honestly. You know, I am for

“I take four planes a week, honestly. You know, I am for intelligence screening.” – Aaron Schock

Listen, O traveler of time and thought, and reflect upon these words of Aaron Schock, spoken in the age of modern flight, when men and women soared above the clouds on wings of steel. At first, his saying may appear simple—a mere comment upon the toils of travel and the safeguards of modern life. Yet within it lies a deeper wisdom, a reflection upon vigilance, responsibility, and the balance between freedom and security. When he declares, “I am for intelligence screening,” he speaks not merely of the scanning of passengers at gates, but of the greater duty that comes with motion, the price of progress itself. For in every age, those who live swiftly and travel far must learn to guard not only their journeys but their minds.

The age in which Schock spoke was one of great speed and peril. The world had shrunk through invention, and the oceans that once divided humanity had become invisible lines crossed in hours. Yet this newfound freedom brought with it new dangers—the threats unseen, born of malice and cunning. Intelligence screening, in his words, stands as the symbol of discernment: the need to distinguish friend from foe, safety from peril, truth from deceit. Just as the ancient guards at the city gates questioned those who sought entry, so too must the modern traveler embrace the necessity of awareness and caution. Security, after all, is not a chain upon liberty, but its protector.

Yet the wisdom of this saying extends beyond the gates of airports. “I take four planes a week,” he says, revealing the weariness of constant motion, the burden of those who live in the currents of modern life. His words remind us that in a world where we move faster than our thoughts, we must not lose sight of mindfulness. The man who travels constantly must learn balance, for in the endless rhythm of departure and arrival, one can easily forget the meaning of the journey itself. The planes he speaks of are not only the vessels of air but the symbols of ambition, of humanity’s restless ascent—and of the vigilance required to keep that ascent safe and honorable.

In every civilization, there have been those who traveled far—merchants crossing deserts, sailors braving storms, explorers venturing into the unknown. Their journeys carried risk, and their survival depended upon intelligence, both of mind and of information. Consider Marco Polo, who journeyed from Venice to the heart of Asia. His success was not born of strength alone, but of foresight, knowledge, and the ability to discern danger from opportunity. Like Schock’s belief in intelligence screening, Polo’s wisdom lay in gathering knowledge before stepping forward, in seeing what others could not. It is not bravery to walk blindly into peril; it is wisdom to see the danger and still proceed with courage.

There is also a moral truth hidden in Schock’s phrase. For intelligence screening can be understood not only as the defense of nations but as the examination of the soul. Just as travelers are tested before flight, so too must each person screen their own intentions before action. What thoughts do we carry into the world? What hidden motives might endanger the peace within or the harmony without? The wise perform such screening upon themselves daily, purging envy, deceit, and recklessness, and allowing only clarity, compassion, and discipline to board the flight of their lives.

Thus, his statement, though rooted in the modern world, carries the ancient spirit of prudence. To travel is to trust, yet trust must be balanced by watchfulness. The intelligent man does not reject caution as fear, nor vigilance as oppression. He understands that the fortress of peace is built not by ignorance but by awareness. Just as one would not set sail without map or compass, neither should a society fly without wisdom guiding its wings. Freedom unguarded becomes fragility; progress without prudence leads to peril.

So let this teaching be your guide, O listener: travel boldly, but wisely. Cross great distances in life, but never abandon discernment. When you move swiftly—whether in work, in love, or in purpose—remember the necessity of intelligence screening: of seeing clearly before you act, of weighing each choice with reason. Guard your mind as you would guard a city gate. For life is a journey through storms and skies, and only those who pair courage with caution shall arrive safely at their destined shore.

And so, in Aaron Schock’s words, we find not the mundane remark of a traveler, but a parable for our age: the call to move forward bravely, but never blindly; to soar high, but to carry the wisdom of the earth within our hearts.