---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are very secretive - secret even…"
description: "\"People are very secretive - secret even from themselves.\" — John le Carre"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-le-carre-651_inspirational_people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-fr_2013032.jpg"
---

#  People are very secretive - secret even from themselves.

![“People are very secretive - secret even from themselves.” quote by John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-le-carre-651_inspirational_people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-fr_2013032.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-le-carre-651_inspirational_people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-fr_2013032.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-le-carre-651_inspirational_people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-fr_2013032.jpg)

> “People are very secretive - secret even from themselves.”

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often hide truths from others and even from themselves, creating self‑deception.

**In simple terms:** We hide even from ourselves.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and confront hidden motives.

Themes

self‑deception secrecy psychology

Mood

reflective somber

Type

philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- therapy
- decision making
- leadership

Key Concepts

identity cognitive bias defense mechanisms

Questions to Reflect On

- What truths are you avoiding?
- How does secrecy affect trust?

A Different Perspective

Self‑deception can protect ego but hinders growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Secretive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-secretive-2009451/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Secretive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretive/) [Secretive Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretive-secret-3604683/)

## Related quotes

> [People are secretive when they have secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/people-are-secretive-when-they-have-secrets/)

[Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/)

> [I can tell I'm gaining in popularity because more people are being secretive about hating me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-tell-i-m-gaining-in-popularity-because-more-people-are-being/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Lechery is secretive, but must finally reveal itself to at least one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/lechery-is-secretive-but-must-finally-reveal-itself-to-at-least-one/)

[Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/)

> [“A good enemy can be better than the best of friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-panova/a-good-enemy-can-be-better-than-the-best-of-friend/)

[Simona Panova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-panova/)

> [“Ô, Wanderess, Wanderess When did you feel your most euphoric kiss? Was I the source of your greatest bliss?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/wanderess-wanderess-when-did-you-feel-your-most-euphoric-kiss-was-i/)

[Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/)

> [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

> [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/)

[Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/)

> [There is something powerful in the whispering of obscenities, about those in power. There's something delightful about it, something naughty, secretive, forbidden, thrilling. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/there-is-something-powerful-in-the-whispering-of-obscenities-about/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [Behind the scenes there is a secretive, undeclared war of revenge that's already under way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-logan/behind-the-scenes-there-is-a-secretive-undeclared-war-of-revenge-that/)

[Lara Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-logan/)

> [“What both Dell and Gary figured out before opening themselves up is that conventional business wisdom that companies need to be secretive in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-hunt/what-both-dell-and-gary-figured-out-before-opening-themselves-up-is/)

[Tara Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-hunt/)

> [The people who want to be segregated are part of a different generation, and they have lived their lives. They are the stakeholders and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laxmi-narayan-tripathi/the-people-who-want-to-be-segregated-are-part-of-a-different/)

[Laxmi Narayan Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laxmi-narayan-tripathi/)

> [It seems to me that states (and corporations) have become increasingly secretive and opaque, while people are increasingly exposed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/it-seems-to-me-that-states-and-corporations-have-become-increasingly/)

[Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/)

> [I got this secretive, very secretive email from my agent saying, 'You have an audition for Marvel, no one's letting us know what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-house/i-got-this-secretive-very-secretive-email-from-my-agent-saying-you/)

[Rachel House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-house/)

> [A number of mysterious words , secretive puzzles, lot many confusionsand dilemma when enters a mind and make you feel a bit different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/a-number-of-mysterious-words-secretive-puzzles-lot-many-confusionsand/)

[Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/)

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

## More by John le Carre

> [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [During the Cold War, we lived in coded times when it wasn't easy and there were shades of grey and ambiguity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/during-the-cold-war-we-lived-in-coded-times-when-it-wasn-t-easy-and/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [“You're history, Donohue. You think countries run the fucking world! Go back to fucking Sunday school. It's 'God save our multinational' they're singing these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/you-re-history-donohue-you-think-countries-run-the-fucking-world-go/)

[John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [When you're my age and you see a story, you better go for it pretty quickly. I'd just like to get a few more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/when-you-re-my-age-and-you-see-a-story-you-better-go-for-it-pretty/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [The trouble is, when professional spies go out of their way to make a definitive statement about one of their own, the public tends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-trouble-is-when-professional-spies-go-out-of-their-way-to-make-a/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [Ideologies have no heart of their own. They're the whores and angels of our striving selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/ideologies-have-no-heart-of-their-own-they-re-the-whores-and-angels/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [Home's where you go when you run out of homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/home-s-where-you-go-when-you-run-out-of-homes/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [“Pain observed is journalistic pain. It's diplomatic pain. It's television pain, over as soon as you switch off your beastly set.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/pain-observed-is-journalistic-pain-it-s-diplomatic-pain-it-s/)

[John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [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/)

> [“and the wood smoke will roll out of the fireplace on to the carpet we paid too much for on that rainy afternoon in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/and-the-wood-smoke-will-roll-out-of-the-fireplace-on-to-the-carpet-we/)

[John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [“Middle children weep longer than their brothers and sisters. Over her mother’s shoulder, stilling her pains and her injured pride, Jackie Lacon watched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/middle-children-weep-longer-than-their-brothers-and-sisters-over-her/)

[John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [For decades to come the spy world will continue to be the collective couch where the subconscious of each nation is confessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/for-decades-to-come-the-spy-world-will-continue-to-be-the-collective/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [I happen to write by hand. I don't even type. John Le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-happen-to-write-by-hand-i-don-t-even-type-john-le-carre/)

[John Le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [The more identities a man has, the more they express the person they conceal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-more-identities-a-man-has-the-more-they-express-the-person-they/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

[Explore all 409 John le Carre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

## More Inspirational quotes

> [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/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [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/)

> [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/)

[Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/)

[Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/)

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

[Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "People are very secretive - secret even from themselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John le Carre"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-from-themselves/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspirational"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-from-themselves/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-le-carre-651_inspirational_people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-fr_2013032.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-le-carre-651_inspirational_people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-fr_2013032.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-le-carre-651_inspirational_people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-fr_2013032.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People are very secretive - secret even from themselves.” — John le Carre",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John le Carre",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "People are very secretive - secret...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-from-themselves/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/people-are-very-secretive-secret-even-from-themselves/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
