Aspect Quote by Sissela Bok
“Confidentiality refers to the boundaries surrounding shared secrets and to the process of guarding these boundaries. While confidentiality protects much that is not in fact secret, personal secrets lie at its core. The innermost, the vulnerable, often the shameful: these aspects of self-disclosure help explain why one name for professional confidentiality has been "the professional secret." Such secrecy is sometimes mistakenly confused with privacy; yet it can concern many matters in no way private, but that someone wishes to keep from the knowledge of third parties.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Secrets: On the Ethics of Concealment and Revelation, Sissela Bok, 1978
Confidentiality defines limits on sharing information, protecting both true secrets and personal vulnerabilities, distinct from privacy.
In simple terms: Confidentiality sets sharing limits, protecting secrets and personal vulnerability.
Key Takeaway
Respect and enforce information boundaries.
Themes
ethics
privacy
professionalism
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- medical practice
- legal counsel
- corporate policy
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
information security
trust
disclosure
Questions to Reflect On
- When might sharing a secret be ethically required?
- How do you balance confidentiality with accountability?
A Different Perspective
Confidentiality can be over‑applied, stifling necessary transparency.
