--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you know a man’s secrets, you have…" description: "\"“When you know a man’s secrets, you have power over him. A man’s secret is his weakness.”\" — Brent Weeks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/brent-weeks-1256_secrets_when-you-know-a-man-s-secrets-you-have-p_3097456.png" --- # When you know a man’s secrets, you have power over him. A… ![“When you know a man’s secrets, you have power over him. A man’s secret is his weakness.” quote by Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/brent-weeks-1256_secrets_when-you-know-a-man-s-secrets-you-have-p_3097456.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/brent-weeks-1256_secrets_when-you-know-a-man-s-secrets-you-have-p_3097456.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/brent-weeks-1256_secrets_when-you-know-a-man-s-secrets-you-have-p_3097456.png) > ““When you know a man’s secrets, you have power over him. A man’s secret is his weakness.”” [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing someone's hidden vulnerabilities gives leverage, as secrets become a source of power over them. **In simple terms:** Secrets give you power over others. Key Takeaway Use knowledge responsibly, not manipulatively. Themes power secrets vulnerability ethics Mood cautious ethical strategic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal relationships - political intrigue - law enforcement Key Concepts psychology manipulation trust Questions to Reflect On - Is it ethical to use secrets for advantage? - How can one protect their own secrets? A Different Perspective Exploiting secrets can damage trust and relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Man Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-secret-239210/) [Man Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-secrets-619046/) [Secret Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-weakness-5353490/) [Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets/) [Secrets Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets-power-2084956/) ## Related quotes > [The man who can keep a secret may be wise, but he is not half as wise as the man with no secrets to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-man-who-can-keep-a-secret-may-be-wise-but-he-is-not-half-as-wise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Secrets, power. It’s all a metaphor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/secrets-power-it-s-all-a-metaphor/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [I gave you everything, including the secrets and the power to destroy me, so FUCK LOVE cuz you used them on me and ill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cause-guys-get-fucked-by-love-too/i-gave-you-everything-including-the-secrets-and-the-power-to-destroy/) [Cause Guys Get Fucked By Love Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cause-guys-get-fucked-by-love-too/) > [“Secrets had the power to make people stick together against the rest of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-methos/secrets-had-the-power-to-make-people-stick-together-against-the-rest/) [Victor Methos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-methos/) > [Secrets have power, and that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. Sharing secrets, real secrets, important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/secrets-have-power-and-that-power-diminishes-when-they-are-shared-so-2/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [Secrets have power. And that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. Sharing secrets, real secrets, important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/secrets-have-power-and-that-power-diminishes-when-they-are-shared-so/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Yeah, and from what you said, she doesn’t run a major corporation, or have kids. That makes a difference. I don’t know how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/yeah-and-from-what-you-said-she-doesn-t-run-a-major-corporation-or/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [A man who keeps a secret is wise but not nearly as wise as a man who has no secrets to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-man-who-keeps-a-secret-is-wise-but-not-nearly-as-wise-as-a-man-who/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The man who has no secrets from his wife either has no secrets or no wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-wells/the-man-who-has-no-secrets-from-his-wife-either-has-no-secrets-or-no/) [Gilbert Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-wells/) > [The present age delights in unearthing a great man's secrets; for one thing because we like to temper our admiration and also perhaps we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-malraux/the-present-age-delights-in-unearthing-a-great-man-s-secrets-for-one/) [Andre Malraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-malraux/) > [“To know a man’s secrets is to discover his weakness, and thus control his will”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-aldana/to-know-a-man-s-secrets-is-to-discover-his-weakness-and-thus-control/) [Jeremy Aldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-aldana/) > [“You are a man with secrets...and I plan to know them all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-creeden/you-are-a-man-with-secrets-and-i-plan-to-know-them-all/) [Pauline Creeden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-creeden/) > [“A naked man has few secrets, but a flayed man's got none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/a-naked-man-has-few-secrets-but-a-flayed-man-s-got-none/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-has-his-secret-sorrows-which-the-world-knows-not-and-often/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every man has his secret sadness and sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-has-his-secret-sadness-and-sorrows-which-the-world-knows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Brent Weeks > [“Highest marks of the day. And don’t ever do it again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/highest-marks-of-the-day-and-don-t-ever-do-it-again/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“life is our battlefield. We must do what we know to do, not what we want to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/life-is-our-battlefield-we-must-do-what-we-know-to-do-not-what-we/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [Why is it, my shadow-striding friend, that we don't fear dreams? We lose consciousness, lose control, things happen with no apparent logic and abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/why-is-it-my-shadow-striding-friend-that-we-don-t-fear-dreams-we-lose/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“In suffering, we find the true measure of our strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/in-suffering-we-find-the-true-measure-of-our-strength/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“Non takuulam. I shall not serve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/non-takuulam-i-shall-not-serve/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“And on a difference of three minutes, all of history changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/and-on-a-difference-of-three-minutes-all-of-history-changes/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [When you don't know what to do, do what's right and do what's in front of you. But not necessarily what's right in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/when-you-don-t-know-what-to-do-do-what-s-right-and-do-what-s-in-front/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“An oath you only keep when it's convenient isn't an oath at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/an-oath-you-only-keep-when-it-s-convenient-isn-t-an-oath-at-all/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [It's easier for me to write certain character types because of my own life experiences, but I find it too artistically limiting to only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/it-s-easier-for-me-to-write-certain-character-types-because-of-my-own/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [The God gives simpler problems to lesser men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/the-god-gives-simpler-problems-to-lesser-men/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“At some point, you have to decide not merely what you're going to believe, but how you're going to believe. Are you going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/at-some-point-you-have-to-decide-not-merely-what-you-re-going-to/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“You are a god clad in flesh, Gaelan Starfire, and you're more fragile than you know. Be ware.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/you-are-a-god-clad-in-flesh-gaelan-starfire-and-you-re-more-fragile/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“Might doesn’t make right. Might makes reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/might-doesn-t-make-right-might-makes-reality/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“What happens if you do nothing, nothing, there's a price and a terrible freedom to that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/what-happens-if-you-do-nothing-nothing-there-s-a-price-and-a-terrible/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) [Explore all 235 Brent Weeks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) ## More Secrets quotes > [“Fuck, baby. I can hear it. I hear all your beautiful secrets in my name. I want them. I want you. All of you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/fuck-baby-i-can-hear-it-i-hear-all-your-beautiful-secrets-in-my-name/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [Women know things that men will never know. We keep the best secrets. We tell the best stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/women-know-things-that-men-will-never-know-we-keep-the-best-secrets/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Every person has at least one secret that will break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/every-person-has-at-least-one-secret-that-will-break-your-heart/) [AnA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [“It hardly needs to be said: sooner or later secrets have a way of making themselves known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/it-hardly-needs-to-be-said-sooner-or-later-secrets-have-a-way-of/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [“People always knew more than you gave them credit for. Perhaps, in the end, no one had any secrets at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-russell/people-always-knew-more-than-you-gave-them-credit-for-perhaps-in-the/) [Paul Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-russell/) > [Some secrets are better left at that -as secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/some-secrets-are-better-left-at-that-as-secrets/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“You can never let your compassion stand in the way of justice because when you do, other people get hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/you-can-never-let-your-compassion-stand-in-the-way-of-justice-because/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“There are plenty of secrets I would like to know about you, Daphne.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-hodnett/there-are-plenty-of-secrets-i-would-like-to-know-about-you-daphne/) [Brenda Hodnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-hodnett/) > [The value of secrets is ever fluctuating although ladies who have been in society for a long time learn that a secret kept can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/the-value-of-secrets-is-ever-fluctuating-although-ladies-who-have/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [I wonder if it's ever really possible to know the truth about someone else, or if the best we can do is just stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wonder-if-it-s-ever-really-possible-to-know-the-truth-about-someone/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“The secrets eternal neither you know nor I And answers to the riddle neither you know nor I Behind the veil there is much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/the-secrets-eternal-neither-you-know-nor-i-and-answers-to-the-riddle/) [Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“Life, like love, holds many secrets for us to discover. Some we unearth early on. Others take us most of our days to stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-l-pickering-jr/life-like-love-holds-many-secrets-for-us-to-discover-some-we-unearth/) [Roy L. Pickering Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-l-pickering-jr/) > [The reality is that the work I do is not private work. I bring all my secrets, my life, to my work. Anybody who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-garcia/the-reality-is-that-the-work-i-do-is-not-private-work-i-bring-all-my/) [Andy Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-garcia/) > [“I know the names of every intelligent being, the spots on the wings of every butterfly that broke out of a cocoon, the genetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/i-know-the-names-of-every-intelligent-being-the-spots-on-the-wings-of/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) [Browse all 2,415 Secrets quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When you know a man’s secrets, you have power over him. 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