Accepting Quote by Samuel Johnson
“The rules that I shall propose concerning secrecy, and from which I think it not safe to deviate without long and exact deliberation, are, never to solicit the knowledge of a secret,--not willingly, nor without many limitations, to accept such confidence when it is offered; when a secret is once admitted, to consider the trust as of a very high nature, important as society and sacred as truth, and therefore not to be violated for any incidental convenience, or slight appearance of contrary fitness.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Idler, No. 1, 1759
Secrets must be guarded with utmost care; breaching them undermines trust and societal order, so they should be kept only when necessary and with strict limits.
In simple terms: Keep secrets safe; breaking them harms trust.
Key Takeaway
Guard secrets diligently.
Themes
trust
ethics
confidentiality
Mood
cautious
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- politics
- business negotiations
Key Concepts
integrity
social contract
privacy
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it justified to share a secret?
- How do you balance privacy with openness?
A Different Perspective
Over‑protecting secrets can hinder transparency.
