--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Three things know a secret- First; the…" description: "\"Three things know a secret- First; the lady in a dream, The dog that barks no warning, And a maid that does not scream.\" — Mercedes Lackey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/mercedes-lackey-2374_bark_three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lad_710025.png" --- # Three things know a secret- First; the lady in a dream… ![“Three things know a secret- First; the lady in a dream, The dog that barks no warning, And a maid that does not scream.” quote by Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/mercedes-lackey-2374_bark_three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lad_710025.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/mercedes-lackey-2374_bark_three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lad_710025.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/mercedes-lackey-2374_bark_three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lad_710025.png) > “Three things know a secret- First; the lady in a dream, The dog that barks no warning, And a maid that does not scream.” [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage lists three cryptic clues—a dreaming lady, a warning‑free dog, and a silent maid—suggesting secret knowledge hidden in ordinary forms. **In simple terms:** Secrets can be hidden in everyday symbols. Key Takeaway Pay attention to subtle, unusual signs. Themes mystery symbolism fantasy Mood curious enigmatic Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - solving puzzles - reading dreams - understanding omens - detective work Key Concepts interpretation hidden messages Questions to Reflect On - What ordinary thing might hide a secret for you? - How do you differentiate intuition from imagination? A Different Perspective Interpretations may be subjective and misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warning/) ## Related quotes > [A lady in my dream told me (it's. Not sumertime anymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-watford/a-lady-in-my-dream-told-me-it-s-not-sumertime-anymore/) Maria Watford > [“Whether she thought of him so much, while she drank her warm wine and water, and prepared herself for bed, as to dream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/whether-she-thought-of-him-so-much-while-she-drank-her-warm-wine-and/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [No young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared, it must be very improper that a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/no-young-lady-can-be-justified-in-falling-in-love-before-the/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [A Real Man is the one who makes his lady to dream about her Wedding dress and he himself dreams about Her in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maheep-singh/a-real-man-is-the-one-who-makes-his-lady-to-dream-about-her-wedding/) Maheep Singh > [“They danced again, and when the assembly closed, parted, on the lady’s side at least, with a strong inclination for continuing the acquaintance. Whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/they-danced-again-and-when-the-assembly-closed-parted-on-the-lady-s/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [My nan was a nursery maid. Most people weren't in big houses. They were maids of all work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/my-nan-was-a-nursery-maid-most-people-weren-t-in-big-houses-they-were/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [“It's a sweet setup, I'll admit. For all that the maids STILL show up each day with jumbo crucifixes, jumpy movements, and red eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/it-s-a-sweet-setup-i-ll-admit-for-all-that-the-maids-still-show-up/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [Valancy herself had never quite relinquished a certain pitiful, shamed, little hope that Romance would come her way yet—never, until this wet, horrible morning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/valancy-herself-had-never-quite-relinquished-a-certain-pitiful-shamed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only game I like to play is "Old Maid", providing she's not too old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/the-only-game-i-like-to-play-is-old-maid-providing-she-s-not-too-old/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Henry VIII had so many wives because his dynastic sense was very strong whenever he saw a maid of honour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cuppy/henry-viii-had-so-many-wives-because-his-dynastic-sense-was-very/) [Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cuppy/) > [Compared with other Americans, journalists are more likely to live in upscale neighborhoods, have maids, own Mercedes and trade stocks, and less likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/compared-with-other-americans-journalists-are-more-likely-to-live-in/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [You've heard tales of beauty and the beast. How a fair maid falls in love with a monster and sees the beauty of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maitland/you-ve-heard-tales-of-beauty-and-the-beast-how-a-fair-maid-falls-in/) [Karen Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maitland/) > [My dad was a bartender. My mom was a cashier, a maid and a stock clerk at K-Mart. They never made it big. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-dad-was-a-bartender-my-mom-was-a-cashier-a-maid-and-a-stock-clerk/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [ Shigure Sohma: \[got Tohru a maid costume for White Day\] I can't wait to for her to call me master while wearing this. Hatsuharu… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/shigure-sohma-got-tohru-a-maid-costume-for-white-day-i-can-t-wait-to/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) ## More by Mercedes Lackey > [“He’d parted reluctantly from Amily, thinking again with envy of Lena and Bear. One thing that they hadn’t been forced to deal with during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/he-d-parted-reluctantly-from-amily-thinking-again-with-envy-of-lena/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [If they projected the fact that they are dangerous any harder, there would be little puddles of "danger" on the floor around them. Look,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/if-they-projected-the-fact-that-they-are-dangerous-any-harder-there/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Then he heard a wild, high-pitched cackling that made the hair stand up on the back of his neck. It wasn't sane, that laugh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/then-he-heard-a-wild-high-pitched-cackling-that-made-the-hair-stand/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Time doesn't. All that Time does is make it more distant, put more space between you and what happened. It doesn't heal anything. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/time-doesn-t-all-that-time-does-is-make-it-more-distant-put-more/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Fanatics can justify practically any atrocity to themselves. The more untenable their position becomes, the harder they hold to it, and the worse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/fanatics-can-justify-practically-any-atrocity-to-themselves-the-more/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Other people can have all the children they want. Some people ask for no-smoking sections. I ask for no children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/other-people-can-have-all-the-children-they-want-some-people-ask-for/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [It isn't wise to be rude to one's mother. She knows everything about your childhood that is potentially embarassing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/it-isn-t-wise-to-be-rude-to-one-s-mother-she-knows-everything-about/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Tradition spoke of an elegant half-arch being only a fallen pile of stones without its counterpart to make it whole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/tradition-spoke-of-an-elegant-half-arch-being-only-a-fallen-pile-of/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“I'm not out to disturb anybody's faith. I happen to be happy and comfortable with a belief system that has a dual deity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/i-m-not-out-to-disturb-anybody-s-faith-i-happen-to-be-happy-and/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Thought it has certainly taken you long enough to realize what should have truly been precious to you. Not your own self-importance, nor how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/thought-it-has-certainly-taken-you-long-enough-to-realize-what-should/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Healer Myrim made no attempt to conceal the fact that Orthallen's treachery had not surprised her. Nor did she conceal that his demise gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/healer-myrim-made-no-attempt-to-conceal-the-fact-that-orthallen-s/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“It is the way in which the Dark returns, Harrier. I will explain, if you like." "Oh, no," Harrier said. "I'd much rather not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/it-is-the-way-in-which-the-dark-returns-harrier-i-will-explain-if-you/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [I think canceling a game that is making a profit, along with destroying jobs and an online community, is entirely unethical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/i-think-canceling-a-game-that-is-making-a-profit-along-with/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Doctor MacKenzie says "Sometimes I think the Victorians had the right idea. When you lost a family member back then you were suppose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/doctor-mackenzie-says-sometimes-i-think-the-victorians-had-the-right/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Priests confine broad truths into narrow doctrines, because more rules mean that they have more power. Priests mistake their own prejudice for conscience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/priests-confine-broad-truths-into-narrow-doctrines-because-more-rules/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) [Explore all 165 Mercedes Lackey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) ## More Bark quotes > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Guests are people who come to your home to see you whine at the table, bark loudly, jump on women wearing pantyhose, and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-kehret/guests-are-people-who-come-to-your-home-to-see-you-whine-at-the-table/) [Peg Kehret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-kehret/) > [I was haunted always by my other life-my drab room in the Bronx, my square foot of the subway, my fixation upon the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-was-haunted-always-by-my-other-life-my-drab-room-in-the-bronx-my/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [We must guard against becoming so engrossed in the specific nature of the roots and bark of the trees of knowledge as to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/we-must-guard-against-becoming-so-engrossed-in-the-specific-nature-of/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [A tortoise is, I suppose, a Jewish pet. It knows its place. Out on the lawn. It doesn't bark. It doesn't tear the Dralon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-lipman/a-tortoise-is-i-suppose-a-jewish-pet-it-knows-its-place-out-on-the/) [Maureen Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-lipman/) > [Our legal system, including the police, is anti-Dalit and anti-poor. The death penalty laws' wrathful majesty, in blood-shot equality, deals the fatal blow on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-r-krishna-iyer/our-legal-system-including-the-police-is-anti-dalit-and-anti-poor-the/) V. R. Krishna Iyer > [It is no use painting the foot of the tree white, the strength of the bark cries out from beneath the paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aime-cesaire/it-is-no-use-painting-the-foot-of-the-tree-white-the-strength-of-the/) [Aime Cesaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aime-cesaire/) > [Dogs, also, bark at what they do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/dogs-also-bark-at-what-they-do-not-know/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The dogs may bark, but the caravan moves on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-needham/the-dogs-may-bark-but-the-caravan-moves-on/) [Joseph Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-needham/) > [Dogs that bark dont bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/dogs-that-bark-dont-bite/) German Proverb > [I bark my voice out through a closed throat, pretty much. It's more, perhaps, like a dog in some ways. It does have its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-bark-my-voice-out-through-a-closed-throat-pretty-much-it-s-more/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Ah, to that far distant strand Bridge there was not to convey, Not a bark was near at hand, Yet true love soon found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/ah-to-that-far-distant-strand-bridge-there-was-not-to-convey-not-a/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Don't bother about people who judge you without knowing you... Remember, dogs bark if they don't know the person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-bother-about-people-who-judge-you-without-knowing-you-remember/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you want to talk with the dogs, you must learn to bark, and bark like an old dog because he doesnt bark without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-you-want-to-talk-with-the-dogs-you-must-learn-to-bark-and-bark/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) Browse all 383 Bark quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Three things know a secret- First; the lady in a dream, The dog that barks no warning, And a maid that does not scream.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mercedes Lackey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lady-in-a-dream-the-dog-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bark" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lady-in-a-dream-the-dog-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/mercedes-lackey-2374_bark_three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lad_710025.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/mercedes-lackey-2374_bark_three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lad_710025.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/mercedes-lackey-2374_bark_three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lad_710025.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Three things know a secret- First; the lady in a dream, The dog that barks no warning, And a maid that does…” — Mercedes Lackey", "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": "Mercedes Lackey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Three things know a secret- First;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lady-in-a-dream-the-dog-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/three-things-know-a-secret-first-the-lady-in-a-dream-the-dog-that/#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 } } ] } ```