A secret may be sometimes best kept by keeping the secret…
“A secret may be sometimes best kept by keeping the secret of its being a secret. It is not many years since a State secret of the greatest importance was printed without being divulged, merely by sending it to the press like any other matter, and trusting to the mechanical habits of the persons employed. They printed it piecemeal in ignorance of what it was about.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Keeping a secret can be achieved by treating it like any other information, relying on routine processes to obscure its importance.
In simple terms: Secrets hidden by normal handling.
Key Takeaway
Use ordinary channels to protect sensitive info.
Themes
secrecy
information management
bureaucracy
trust
process
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
political
inspirational
When to use this quote
- government reporting
- media handling
- confidential communications
Key Concepts
information theory
security through obscurity
organizational behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- Can routine truly conceal importance?
- What risks arise from over‑reliance on process?
A Different Perspective
Relying on routine may fail if staff are inattentive.