I had failed the psychological profiling of a terrorist. The central committee of the Red Brigades had judged me too single-minded and too opinionated to become a good terrorist. My friend, on the other hand, she was a good terrorist because she was very good at following orders.

Source: "The Intricate Economics of Terrorism." TEDGlobal 2009. Jul. 2009. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote is from macroeconomist Loretta Napoleoni's 2009 TED Talk about her research on the complex economics behind terrorism. The quote means that according to her interviews with the Marxist political group the Red Brigades, she would make a poor terrorist because she's too opinionated; her more obedient friend, however, would make a better terrorist. Watch the full TED Talk here: Loretta Napoleoni - The Intricate Economics of Terrorism

“The Intricate Economics of Terrorism.” TEDGlobal 2009. Jul. 2009. Conference Presentation.