--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing about secrets is that they are…" description: "\"The thing about secrets is that they are usually best kept by just one person. That was the special thing about secrets. Some people seemed to think th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/terry-pratchett-19_best-way_the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are_1786691.jpg" --- # The thing about secrets is that they are usually best kept… ![“The thing about secrets is that they are usually best kept by just one person. That was the special thing about secrets. Some people seemed to think that the best way to keep a secret was to tell as many people as possible; what could possibly go wrong for a secret when there were so many people…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/terry-pratchett-19_best-way_the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are_1786691.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/terry-pratchett-19_best-way_the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are_1786691.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/terry-pratchett-19_best-way_the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are_1786691.jpg) > “The thing about secrets is that they are usually best kept by just one person. That was the special thing about secrets. Some people seemed to think that the best way to keep a secret was to tell as many people as possible; what could possibly go wrong for a secret when there were so many people defending it?” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Secrets lose power when shared; solitary guardians preserve their mystery and impact. **In simple terms:** Secrets are strongest when kept by one. Key Takeaway Guard secrets wisely. Themes privacy trust communication Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace confidentiality - family dynamics - political intrigue Key Concepts information theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - Who truly needs to know this secret? - How does sharing affect its value? A Different Perspective Too many keepers can cause leaks and misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Doesn’t big news always leak before it’s meant to? Aren’t secrets usually spilled?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/doesn-t-big-news-always-leak-before-it-s-meant-to-aren-t-secrets/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [“The secret of being wrong isn't to avoid being wrong! The secret is being willing to be wrong. The secret is realizing that wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-secret-of-being-wrong-isn-t-to-avoid-being-wrong-the-secret-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [ “Keep the secret I tell you now, even at the cost of your life. It is this-don't be passionate. That is all."\[FN#268\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/keep-the-secret-i-tell-you-now-even-at-the-cost-of-your-life-it-is/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [SECRET: Something you tell to one person at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/secret-something-you-tell-to-one-person-at-a-time/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“We need a place", she said, "just for us. It would be so secret that we would never tell anyone in the whole world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/we-need-a-place-she-said-just-for-us-it-would-be-so-secret-that-we-2/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [“This wasn't at all what I wanted to talk about, which is this: How did the rabbits get all covered with flowers?" "Tell them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/this-wasn-t-at-all-what-i-wanted-to-talk-about-which-is-this-how-did/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [We would lie on coral sand, below sugary stars, watching Cassiopeia mount her throne and the Great Bear wash its paws in the South.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/we-would-lie-on-coral-sand-below-sugary-stars-watching-cassiopeia/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [“Very soon she'll join all the others who know the secret and will not tell it. Or cannot. Or try and fail because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/very-soon-she-ll-join-all-the-others-who-know-the-secret-and-will-not/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“If I guess your secret, will you tell me if I'm right?" His father laughed but didn't answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-liparulo/if-i-guess-your-secret-will-you-tell-me-if-i-m-right-his-father/) [Robert Liparulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-liparulo/) > [“Tell them it's a secret. Tell them they don't need to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/tell-them-it-s-a-secret-tell-them-they-don-t-need-to-know/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [A secret is what you tell everyone not to tell anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/badbitch/a-secret-is-what-you-tell-everyone-not-to-tell-anyone-else/) Badbitch > [Nothing is secret once you tell anyone. If you want to keep it quiet - don't tell a soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/nothing-is-secret-once-you-tell-anyone-if-you-want-to-keep-it-quiet/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [IF YOUR FRIEND TOLD YOU SOMETHING THATS A SECRET AND YOU GO AND TELL SOMEBODY ELSE DONT EVEN CALL YOURSELF A FRIEND THEN CAUSE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-friend-told-you-something-thats-a-secret-and-you-go-and-tell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tell your friend a lie. If he keeps it secret, then tell him the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/tell-your-friend-a-lie-if-he-keeps-it-secret-then-tell-him-the-truth/) Proverb > [The best way to divulge a secret is to tell someone not to say anything about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fleischer/the-best-way-to-divulge-a-secret-is-to-tell-someone-not-to-say/) [Charles Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fleischer/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Best way quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [The best way to hold customers is to constantly figure out how to give them more for less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/the-best-way-to-hold-customers-is-to-constantly-figure-out-how-to/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/my-experience-has-been-that-work-is-almost-the-best-way-to-pull/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“The best way to take revenge of me is to make me see you successful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/the-best-way-to-take-revenge-of-me-is-to-make-me-see-you-successful/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [To know each other is the best way to understand each other. To understand each other is the only way to love each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/to-know-each-other-is-the-best-way-to-understand-each-other-to/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [One of the best ways into the business is to get a job with a production, which you can do by cold-calling or by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/one-of-the-best-ways-into-the-business-is-to-get-a-job-with-a/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/the-best-way-to-counter-attack-a-hater-is-to-make-it-blatantly/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [What I can say is that all my characters are searching for their souls, because they are my mirrors. I'm someone who is constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/what-i-can-say-is-that-all-my-characters-are-searching-for-their/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The best way for women to acquire knowledge is from conversation with a father, a brother, or a friend, in the way of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/the-best-way-for-women-to-acquire-knowledge-is-from-conversation-with/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [Reclassification is the best way to for us to preserve the Internet as an unfettered tool for communication and the sharing of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-schumer/reclassification-is-the-best-way-to-for-us-to-preserve-the-internet/) [Chuck Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-schumer/) > [I think I just want to leave my mark in some way. I hope I leave the world a better place than it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-think-i-just-want-to-leave-my-mark-in-some-way-i-hope-i-leave-the/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [My mother always told me the best way to learn to deal with a man was to learn to ride a mule. She said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/my-mother-always-told-me-the-best-way-to-learn-to-deal-with-a-man-was/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [In the end, the best way to succeed is to go small. And when you go small, you say no - a lot. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-w-keller/in-the-end-the-best-way-to-succeed-is-to-go-small-and-when-you-go/) [Gary W. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-w-keller/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) [Browse all 1,757 Best way quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing about secrets is that they are usually best kept by just one person. That was the special thing about secrets. Some people seemed to think that the best way to keep a secret was to tell as many people as possible; what could possibly go wrong for a secret when there were so many people defending it?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are-usually-best-kept-by-just/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best way" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are-usually-best-kept-by-just/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/terry-pratchett-19_best-way_the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are_1786691.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/terry-pratchett-19_best-way_the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are_1786691.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/terry-pratchett-19_best-way_the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are_1786691.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing about secrets is that they are usually best kept by just one person. That was the special thing…” — Terry Pratchett", "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": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing about secrets is that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are-usually-best-kept-by-just/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thing-about-secrets-is-that-they-are-usually-best-kept-by-just/#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 } } ] } ```