--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The secret of masonry is to keep a secret." description: "\"The secret of masonry is to keep a secret.\" — Joseph Smith, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/joseph-smith-jr-1647_masonry_the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secre_319193.png" --- # The secret of masonry is to keep a secret. ![“The secret of masonry is to keep a secret.” quote by Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/joseph-smith-jr-1647_masonry_the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secre_319193.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/joseph-smith-jr-1647_masonry_the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secre_319193.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/joseph-smith-jr-1647_masonry_the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secre_319193.png) > “The secret of masonry is to keep a secret.” [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Masonry’s core principle is secrecy, emphasizing the importance of hidden knowledge. **In simple terms:** Masons keep secrets. Key Takeaway Respect confidentiality. Themes secrecy knowledge tradition Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - rituals - fraternal meetings - initiations Key Concepts esotericism trust privacy Questions to Reflect On - Why is secrecy valued here? - What are the risks of hidden knowledge? A Different Perspective Secrecy can hinder openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Masonry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masonry/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [The secret of Masonry, like the secret of life, can be known only by those who seek it, serve it, live it. It cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-secret-of-masonry-like-the-secret-of-life-can-be-known-only-by/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The real secrets of Masonry are never told, not even from mouth to ear. For the real secret of Masonry is spoken to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-real-secrets-of-masonry-are-never-told-not-even-from-mouth-to-ear/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [“Professor Langdon,' called a young man with curly hair in the back row, 'if Masonry is not a secret society, not a corporation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/professor-langdon-called-a-young-man-with-curly-hair-in-the-back-row/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I will prove that the world is wrong, by showing what God is...God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-will-prove-that-the-world-is-wrong-by-showing-what-god-is-god/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [To you, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General (33rd Degree Masons), we say this, that you may repeat it to the Brethren of the 32nd, 31st,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/to-you-sovereign-grand-inspectors-general-33rd-degree-masons-we-say/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [There is no doubt in my mind that Masonry is the cornerstone of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-thomas/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-that-masonry-is-the-cornerstone-of/) [Dave Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-thomas/) > [“Life lies behind us as the quarry from whence we get tiles and copestones for the masonry of to-day. This is the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-lies-behind-us-as-the-quarry-from-whence-we-get-tiles-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Masonry is first and foremost an education society, one which TEACHES moral and ethics - a way of life. Secondly,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-porter/masonry-is-first-and-foremost-an-education-society-one-which-teaches/) Cliff Porter > [The precepts of the Gospel were universally the obligations of Masonry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-precepts-of-the-gospel-were-universally-the-obligations-of-masonry/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The Blue Degrees are but the outer court...of the temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-blue-degrees-are-but-the-outer-court-of-the-temple-part-of-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Set in the remote and harsh high desert landscape of Idaho, Outpost is an artist live/work studio and sculpture garden for making and displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kundig/set-in-the-remote-and-harsh-high-desert-landscape-of-idaho-outpost-is/) Tom Kundig > [“The taste of blood and that annoying sting of a bitten tongue. Once man got the taste of blood there was no going back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/the-taste-of-blood-and-that-annoying-sting-of-a-bitten-tongue-once/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [I hear the ruin of all space, shattered glass and toppled masonry, and time one livid final flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/i-hear-the-ruin-of-all-space-shattered-glass-and-toppled-masonry-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Masonry inculcates faith in immortality as indispensable to moral living and urges its members to qualify for eternal life by the practice of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-hammond/masonry-inculcates-faith-in-immortality-as-indispensable-to-moral/) William E Hammond > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) ## More by Joseph Smith, Jr > [ According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I \[the Lord\] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/according-to-the-laws-and-constitution-of-the-people-which-i-the-lord/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/all-your-losses-will-be-made-up-to-you-in-the-resurrection-provided/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge. For if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/a-man-is-saved-no-faster-than-he-gets-knowledge-for-if-he-does-not/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there-is-no-error-in-the/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [ \[W\]e shall have the satisfaction of knowing that we have acted conscientiously, and have used our best judgment. And if we have to throw… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/w-e-shall-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that-we-have-acted/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [If I had not actually got into this work and been called of God, I would back out. But I cannot back out: I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/if-i-had-not-actually-got-into-this-work-and-been-called-of-god-i/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I will prove that the world is wrong, by showing what God is...God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-will-prove-that-the-world-is-wrong-by-showing-what-god-is-god/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/one-of-the-grand-fundamental-principles-of-mormonism-is-to-receive/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine, it looks too much like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-never-thought-it-was-right-to-call-up-a-man-and-try-him-because-he/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [The laundry has its hands on my dirty shirts, sheets, towels and tablecloths, and who knows what tales they tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-laundry-has-its-hands-on-my-dirty-shirts-sheets-towels-and/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [When we are accomplishing the good, the greatest opposition comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/when-we-are-accomplishing-the-good-the-greatest-opposition-comes/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Salvation cannot come without revelation. Men of the present time testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen either; and I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/salvation-cannot-come-without-revelation-men-of-the-present-time/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [ Will not the Lord hear my prayers and listen to my cries as soon as he ever did to theirs \[the ancient saints'\] if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/will-not-the-lord-hear-my-prayers-and-listen-to-my-cries-as-soon-as/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertion, and that they are called to be co-workers with us and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/let-the-saints-remember-that-great-things-depend-on-their-individual/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/friendship-is-the-grand-fundamental-principle-of-mormonism/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) [Explore all 219 Joseph Smith, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) ## More Masonry quotes > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Masonry inculcates faith in immortality as indispensable to moral living and urges its members to qualify for eternal life by the practice of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-hammond/masonry-inculcates-faith-in-immortality-as-indispensable-to-moral/) William E Hammond > [I hear the ruin of all space, shattered glass and toppled masonry, and time one livid final flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/i-hear-the-ruin-of-all-space-shattered-glass-and-toppled-masonry-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“The taste of blood and that annoying sting of a bitten tongue. Once man got the taste of blood there was no going back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/the-taste-of-blood-and-that-annoying-sting-of-a-bitten-tongue-once/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [Set in the remote and harsh high desert landscape of Idaho, Outpost is an artist live/work studio and sculpture garden for making and displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kundig/set-in-the-remote-and-harsh-high-desert-landscape-of-idaho-outpost-is/) Tom Kundig > [The Blue Degrees are but the outer court...of the temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-blue-degrees-are-but-the-outer-court-of-the-temple-part-of-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [The precepts of the Gospel were universally the obligations of Masonry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-precepts-of-the-gospel-were-universally-the-obligations-of-masonry/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The real secrets of Masonry are never told, not even from mouth to ear. For the real secret of Masonry is spoken to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-real-secrets-of-masonry-are-never-told-not-even-from-mouth-to-ear/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [“Masonry is first and foremost an education society, one which TEACHES moral and ethics - a way of life. Secondly,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-porter/masonry-is-first-and-foremost-an-education-society-one-which-teaches/) Cliff Porter > [“Life lies behind us as the quarry from whence we get tiles and copestones for the masonry of to-day. This is the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-lies-behind-us-as-the-quarry-from-whence-we-get-tiles-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The secret of Masonry, like the secret of life, can be known only by those who seek it, serve it, live it. It cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-secret-of-masonry-like-the-secret-of-life-can-be-known-only-by/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [There is no doubt in my mind that Masonry is the cornerstone of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-thomas/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-that-masonry-is-the-cornerstone-of/) [Dave Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-thomas/) > [To you, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General (33rd Degree Masons), we say this, that you may repeat it to the Brethren of the 32nd, 31st,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/to-you-sovereign-grand-inspectors-general-33rd-degree-masons-we-say/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [The institution of Masonry ought to be abandoned as one capable of much evil, and incapable of producing any good which might not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/the-institution-of-masonry-ought-to-be-abandoned-as-one-capable-of/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [What is more absurd and more impious than to attribute the name of Lucifer to the devil, that is, to personified evil. The intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/what-is-more-absurd-and-more-impious-than-to-attribute-the-name-of/) [Eliphas Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/) [Browse all 104 Masonry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masonry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The secret of masonry is to keep a secret.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Smith, Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secret/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Masonry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secret/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/joseph-smith-jr-1647_masonry_the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secre_319193.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/joseph-smith-jr-1647_masonry_the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secre_319193.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/joseph-smith-jr-1647_masonry_the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secre_319193.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The secret of masonry is to keep a secret.” — Joseph Smith, Jr", "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": "Joseph Smith, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The secret of masonry is to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secret/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-secret-of-masonry-is-to-keep-a-secret/#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 } } ] } ```