--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Friendship, love, and piety ought to be…" description: "\"Friendship, love, and piety ought to be handled with a sort of mysterious secrecy; they ought to be spoken of only in the rare moments of perfect confi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/novalis-1989_confidence_friendship-love-and-piety-ought-to-be-ha_947931.jpg" --- # Friendship, love, and piety ought to be handled with a… ![“Friendship, love, and piety ought to be handled with a sort of mysterious secrecy; they ought to be spoken of only in the rare moments of perfect confidence, to be mutually understood in silence. Many things are too delicate to be thought; many more, to be spoken.” quote by Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/novalis-1989_confidence_friendship-love-and-piety-ought-to-be-ha_947931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/novalis-1989_confidence_friendship-love-and-piety-ought-to-be-ha_947931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/novalis-1989_confidence_friendship-love-and-piety-ought-to-be-ha_947931.jpg) > “Friendship, love, and piety ought to be handled with a sort of mysterious secrecy; they ought to be spoken of only in the rare moments of perfect confidence, to be mutually understood in silence. Many things are too delicate to be thought; many more, to be spoken.” [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocating that deep relationships like friendship, love, and piety are best kept private and spoken only in moments of absolute trust, because they are too delicate for casual discussion. **In simple terms:** Intimate bonds should be shared only in trusted, rare moments. Key Takeaway Guard precious connections with discretion. Themes privacy trust intimacy secrecy Mood contemplative intimate Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - confiding in a close friend - expressing love in private - maintaining piety in silence - sharing secrets selectively Key Concepts philosophical emotional depth communication norms Questions to Reflect On - When is secrecy protective versus isolating? - How can trust be built without secrecy? A Different Perspective May hinder openness and support when needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Delicacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delicacy/) [Delicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delicate/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendship -love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-love-2/) [Friendship Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Mysterious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysterious/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Piety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piety/) [Rare moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rare-moments/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Secrecy Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy-ought-1668932/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silence Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence-things-1668934/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Understood Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood-silence-1668933/) ## Related quotes > [“he completed the thoughts inside my head. not my sentences.   my thoughts   - he understood my silence”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-gomez/he-completed-the-thoughts-inside-my-head-not-my-sentences-my-thoughts/) [Gretchen Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-gomez/) > [“It was monks who first taught the art of reading in silence. During the Dark Ages. Augustine, perhaps, was first. And silence was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moody/it-was-monks-who-first-taught-the-art-of-reading-in-silence-during/) [Rick Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moody/) > [Marriage is like a three-speed gearbox - affection, friendship, love. It is not advisable to crash your gears and go right through to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/marriage-is-like-a-three-speed-gearbox-affection-friendship-love-it/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [Flowers are lovely; love is flower-like; Friendship is a sheltering tree; Oh the joys that came down shower-like, Of friendship, love, and liberty, Ere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/flowers-are-lovely-love-is-flower-like-friendship-is-a-sheltering/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [That softness around your eyes, a softness in your face. 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Reach out to greater health, happiness, fitness, friendship, love and greater pride in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/step-into-a-new-you-each-day-reach-out-to-greater-health-happiness/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [A life that partakes even a little of friendship, love, irony, humor, parenthood, literature, and music, and the chance to take part in battles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/a-life-that-partakes-even-a-little-of-friendship-love-irony-humor/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Do you know what the difference is between Friendship and Love? Friendship is the photograph, Love is the oil painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-delaney/do-you-know-what-the-difference-is-between-friendship-and-love/) [Frank Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-delaney/) > [“Let us love this distance, which is thoroughly woven with friendship, since those who do not love each other are not separated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/let-us-love-this-distance-which-is-thoroughly-woven-with-friendship/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [No human being can ever 'own' another, whether in friendship, love, marriage, or parenthood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/no-human-being-can-ever-own-another-whether-in-friendship-love/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [For, when men shall meet as they ought, each a benefactor, a shower of stars, clothed with thoughts, with deeds, with accomplishments, it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/for-when-men-shall-meet-as-they-ought-each-a-benefactor-a-shower-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All that matters in life," the grey man went on, "is to climb the ladder of success, amount to something, own things. When a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/all-that-matters-in-life-the-grey-man-went-on-is-to-climb-the-ladder/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [Here's hoping that your special day Will be more 'happy ever after' With all the joys of friendship, Love, fun and laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/here-s-hoping-that-your-special-day-will-be-more-happy-ever-after/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) ## More by Novalis > [To get to know a truth properly, one must polemicize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/to-get-to-know-a-truth-properly-one-must-polemicize-it/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Character is a wish for a perfect education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/character-is-a-wish-for-a-perfect-education/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [“Whoever sees life other than as a self-destroying illusion is himself still preoccupied with life. Life must not be a novel that is given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/whoever-sees-life-other-than-as-a-self-destroying-illusion-is-himself/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [“Inspiration without intellect is useless and dangerous; and the poet will be able to perform few wonders, when he is astonished by wonders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/inspiration-without-intellect-is-useless-and-dangerous-and-the-poet/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [It is not merely the multiplicity of tints, the gladness of tone, or the balminess of the air which delight in the spring; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/it-is-not-merely-the-multiplicity-of-tints-the-gladness-of-tone-or/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [“The world must be romanticized. Only in that way will one rediscover its original senses. Romanticization is nothing less than a qualitative raising of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/the-world-must-be-romanticized-only-in-that-way-will-one-rediscover/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Nature is an aeolian harp, a musical instrument whose tones are the re-echo of higher strings within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/nature-is-an-aeolian-harp-a-musical-instrument-whose-tones-are-the-re/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Our bodies are molded rivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/our-bodies-are-molded-rivers/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Where are we really going? Always home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/where-are-we-really-going-always-home/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Darwin remarks that we are less dazzled by the light at waking, if we have been dreaming of visible objects. Happy are those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/darwin-remarks-that-we-are-less-dazzled-by-the-light-at-waking-if-we/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [We are near waking when we dream we are dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/we-are-near-waking-when-we-dream-we-are-dreaming/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Man has his being in truth--if he sacrifices truth he sacrifices himself. Whoever betrays truth betrays himself. It is not a question of lying--but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/man-has-his-being-in-truth-if-he-sacrifices-truth-he-sacrifices/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Every beloved object is the center point of a paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/every-beloved-object-is-the-center-point-of-a-paradise/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [In a work of art, chaos must shimmer through the veil of order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/in-a-work-of-art-chaos-must-shimmer-through-the-veil-of-order/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Many things are too delicate to be thought; many more, to be spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/many-things-are-too-delicate-to-be-thought-many-more-to-be-spoken/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) [Explore all 167 Novalis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Friendship, love, and piety ought to be handled with a sort of mysterious secrecy; they ought to be spoken of only in the rare moments of perfect confidence, to be mutually understood in silence. 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