Kept secrets Quote by Adam Smith
“All registers which, it is acknowledged, ought to be kept secret, ought certainly never to exist.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The Wealth of Nations, 1776
Some information must remain secret; certain registers should never exist.
In simple terms: Some secrets must stay hidden.
Key Takeaway
Protect sensitive data.
Themes
privacy
secrecy
information control
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- government
- corporate governance
- data handling
- security policy
Key Concepts
Economic theory
state power
Questions to Reflect On
- What information should be public?
- When does secrecy become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Excess secrecy can stifle transparency.
![“On November 22, 1963, he said, “One of the worst kept secrets [in the world] is the truth about the President’s murder. It wasn’t Castro or the Russians. The men who killed Mr. Kennedy were CIA contract agents. … It had to happen. The man was too independent for his own good.” quote by Mae Brussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e9f/mae-brussell-14019_kennedy_on-november-22-1963-he-said-one-of-the-w_365614.jpg)
