--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every thing secret degenerates, even the…" description: "\"Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.\" — Ano..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/anonymous-1_administration_every-thing-secret-degenerates-even-the_2554381.jpg" --- # Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of… ![“Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/anonymous-1_administration_every-thing-secret-degenerates-even-the_2554381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/anonymous-1_administration_every-thing-secret-degenerates-even-the_2554381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/anonymous-1_administration_every-thing-secret-degenerates-even-the_2554381.jpg) > “Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Secret actions erode trust; transparency is essential for justice. **In simple terms:** Hidden actions weaken trust; openness protects justice. Key Takeaway Demand openness in governance. Themes transparency justice accountability Mood critical concerned Type ethical political When to use this quote - legal reform - media oversight - civic engagement Key Concepts public scrutiny ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure accountability? - How does secrecy affect public trust? A Different Perspective Complete secrecy is impossible and can backfire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Publicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publicity/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/everything-secret-degenerates-even-the-administration-of-justice/) John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton > [The thing about me is that my secret passion is history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/the-thing-about-me-is-that-my-secret-passion-is-history/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [Now everybody knows about this thing that's my secret. It was my thing, the music I turned to when I was alone and needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/now-everybody-knows-about-this-thing-that-s-my-secret-it-was-my-thing/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [The good thing about a secret is that women dont know what a secret is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/the-good-thing-about-a-secret-is-that-women-dont-know-what-a-secret-is/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [You can want one thing and have a secret wish for its opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/you-can-want-one-thing-and-have-a-secret-wish-for-its-opposite/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [There are many things I can do, but I have to narrow it down to the one thing I must do. The secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/there-are-many-things-i-can-do-but-i-have-to-narrow-it-down-to-the/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“There is really no such thing as a secret; everybody likes to tell, and everybody does tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/there-is-really-no-such-thing-as-a-secret-everybody-likes-to-tell-and/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [A good thing done in secret is very powerful and a bad thing done in secret is very destructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/a-good-thing-done-in-secret-is-very-powerful-and-a-bad-thing-done-in/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“There is no such thing as a secret—not really, not in the modern world, not with photography and telegraphy and railways and newspaper presses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-secret-not-really-not-in-the-modern-world/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Secrets are the blood of life. Every big thing is a secret, even when you know it, because you never know all of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/secrets-are-the-blood-of-life-every-big-thing-is-a-secret-even-when/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Oh, from what heights of blessing it is possible for a man to fall! To what depths of sin a man can descend, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-from-what-heights-of-blessing-it-is-possible-for-a-man-to-fall-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The effect of power and publicity on all men is the aggravation of self, a sort of tumor that ends by killing the victim's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-effect-of-power-and-publicity-on-all-men-is-the-aggravation-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There’s no such thing as bad publicity,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-no-such-thing-as-bad-publicity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The art of publicity is a black art; but it has come to stay, and every year adds to its potency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-art-of-publicity-is-a-black-art-but-it-has-come-to-stay-and-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Joy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/joy-which-was-the-small-publicity-of-the-pagan-is-the-gigantic-secret/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. 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