--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone agrees that a secret should be…" description: "\"Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does not agree as to the nature and importance of secrecy. Too often we consult ourse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_agree_everyone-agrees-that-a-secret-should-be_2964678.jpg" --- # Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but… ![“Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does not agree as to the nature and importance of secrecy. Too often we consult ourselves as to what we should say, what we should leave unsaid. There are few permanent secrets, and the scruple against revealing them will not last…” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_agree_everyone-agrees-that-a-secret-should-be_2964678.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_agree_everyone-agrees-that-a-secret-should-be_2964678.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_agree_everyone-agrees-that-a-secret-should-be_2964678.jpg) > “Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does not agree as to the nature and importance of secrecy. Too often we consult ourselves as to what we should say, what we should leave unsaid. There are few permanent secrets, and the scruple against revealing them will not last forever.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Secrecy is debated, but its permanence is doubtful; the urge to hide fades over time. **In simple terms:** Secrets rarely last forever. Key Takeaway Question the value of keeping secrets. Themes privacy trust communication Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - political negotiations - corporate confidentiality Key Concepts ethics social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is secrecy justified? - What are the costs of revealing a secret? A Different Perspective Secrets can erode trust if kept unnecessarily. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Scruples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scruples/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at right time. 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I try to face things without regret or make sure that I'm happy with things and leave nothing unsaid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/i-try-to-be-happy-i-try-to-face-things-without-regret-or-make-sure/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [I know you will guess all I leave unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honore-gabriel-riqueti-comte-de-mirabeau/i-know-you-will-guess-all-i-leave-unsaid/) [Honore Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honore-gabriel-riqueti-comte-de-mirabeau/) > [“I'm never going to see him again. There were so many things I didn't say, and after my parents… I swore I'd never leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myra-mcentire/i-m-never-going-to-see-him-again-there-were-so-many-things-i-didn-t/) [Myra McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myra-mcentire/) > [Some things are meant to leave unsaid; silence is the loudest cry yet its better being quiet...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goodie/some-things-are-meant-to-leave-unsaid-silence-is-the-loudest-cry-yet/) [Goodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goodie/) > [“The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-nevill/the-real-art-of-conversation-is-not-only-to-say-the-right-thing-at/) [Dorothy Nevill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-nevill/) > [I try to face things without regret, or make sure that I'm happy with things and leave nothing unsaid if I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/i-try-to-face-things-without-regret-or-make-sure-that-i-m-happy-with/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [It’s less the words they say than those they leave unsaid that split old friends apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/it-s-less-the-words-they-say-than-those-they-leave-unsaid-that-split/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Don't leave it all unsaid, somewhere in the wasteland of your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-leave-it-all-unsaid-somewhere-in-the-wasteland-of-your-head/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The aim of keeping secrets is a permanent one, but the truth is, there are no permanent secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/the-aim-of-keeping-secrets-is-a-permanent-one-but-the-truth-is-there/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [The greatest threat to mankind comes from the renunciation of individual scruple in favor of institutional denominators. . . . Real heroism lies, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-greatest-threat-to-mankind-comes-from-the-renunciation-of/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [It may be asserted without scruple, that no otherclass of dependants have had their character so entirely distorted from its natural proportions by their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/it-may-be-asserted-without-scruple-that-no-otherclass-of-dependants/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [He would be guilty of mortal sin, because he exposes himself to the danger of grievously offending God. Hence, before he acts he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/he-would-be-guilty-of-mortal-sin-because-he-exposes-himself-to-the/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Agree quotes > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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