if I believed that the choice lay between a sacrifice of…
“if I believed that the choice lay between a sacrifice of the completest order of biography and that of the inviolability of private epistolary correspondence, I could not hesitate for a moment. I would keep the old and precious privacy,-the inestimable right of every one who has a friend and can write to him, - I would keep our written confidence from being made biographical material, as anxiously as I would keep our spoken conversation from being noted down for the good of society.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
She argues that personal letters should remain private and not be turned into public biography, valuing individual privacy over societal curiosity.
In simple terms: Protect private correspondence from public exposure.
Key Takeaway
Respect personal privacy in communication.
Themes
privacy
personal rights
ethics
society
literature
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- letter writing
- journalism
- historical research
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
confidentiality
autonomy
public vs private
Questions to Reflect On
- Should personal letters ever be disclosed for historical insight?
- How do we balance privacy with societal benefit?
A Different Perspective
Privacy may conflict with public interest in transparency.