We will have to continue to improve our human intelligence

In the grave and discerning words of John Sununu, former governor and advisor in the halls of power, we hear not merely a reflection on national security, but a timeless truth about vigilance and understanding: “We will have to continue to improve our human intelligence system—something that was, unfortunately, lacking in the years which led up to September 11. This is going to be a continuing process of change.” Beneath these words lies the eternal lesson that no civilization, no matter how mighty, can endure without the constant refinement of its awareness—for ignorance is the first weakness of any people, and the unseen enemy is always the most dangerous.

The origin of this quote is rooted in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, when the world awoke to a new kind of threat—one born not of standing armies but of hidden networks, shadows, and silence. Sununu, like many who studied those tragic days, saw that the great failure was not of strength but of intelligence—not of courage, but of foresight. The intricate machinery of defense had overlooked the most vital element: the human mind, the capacity to understand, anticipate, and interpret. Thus, his call to improve the human intelligence system was not merely about gathering more information, but about deepening the art of perception itself, the ability to see what lies beneath appearances.

To understand his words is to grasp a principle as old as civilization itself: that survival depends not only on force, but on wisdom. In the ancient kingdoms of the world, from the courts of Egyptian pharaohs to the empires of China and Rome, rulers who endured were those who cultivated networks of insight—the spies, scouts, and emissaries who saw with the eyes of the unseen. The strategist Sun Tzu wrote, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” But if knowledge fails, even one unseen strike can fell the mighty. Sununu’s reflection, therefore, echoes this truth in a modern form: that the security of nations and the progress of humanity rest upon the ceaseless sharpening of our understanding, both of others and of ourselves.

Yet, there is a deeper meaning still, for Sununu’s words reach beyond politics into the realm of the human spirit. To improve “human intelligence” is not only to build better systems of information, but to cultivate greater discernment in our hearts and minds. For intelligence is not merely the collection of facts, but the wisdom to interpret them. In our personal lives, too, we often fail because we do not see clearly—because we rush, assume, or ignore what lies beneath the surface. Whether in the life of nations or in the heart of one person, blindness to truth leads to downfall. Thus, the improvement of intelligence—outer and inner—is a moral and spiritual duty.

Consider the story of Winston Churchill in the years before the Second World War. While many sought peace through denial, Churchill read the signs of danger in the rise of tyranny. He listened to reports that others dismissed, pieced together fragments of information, and perceived the truth others refused to see. His was not the intelligence of machines or systems, but of intuition sharpened by knowledge and courage. When war came, his preparation and insight preserved not only his nation but the free world. His story mirrors Sununu’s wisdom: that intelligence, when cultivated with vigilance and humility, becomes the shield of civilization.

Sununu’s reminder that this is a “continuing process of change” carries another ancient insight—that the pursuit of wisdom never ends. The world evolves, and so must our understanding. Complacency is the enemy of progress, and those who believe they have learned enough have already begun to decay. Just as the mind must adapt to new challenges, so too must societies remain flexible, responsive, and humble before the complexity of the world. To improve intelligence is to remain forever students of reality, never its masters.

The lesson, then, is both practical and eternal: never cease to seek understanding. Whether in matters of governance, conflict, or the soul, let your intelligence be human—rooted in empathy, perception, and constant growth. Do not rely only on systems or devices, for the most powerful instrument of security and wisdom is the discerning heart and disciplined mind. Sharpen your awareness; question what seems certain; listen deeply; and remember that knowledge without reflection is information, but knowledge with reflection becomes wisdom.

So, my child of awareness and vigilance, take to heart John Sununu’s words. In your life, as in the life of nations, build your intelligence system—not merely through study, but through listening, through humility, through the courage to face truth even when it unsettles. For the world is ever changing, and those who would stand secure must learn, adapt, and grow. In the end, it is not the sword or the wall that protects a people, but the light of understanding that burns within them. Keep that light alive, and no shadow—however grave or imminent—can overcome you.