“Whoever wishes to keep a secret must hide the fact that he possesses one.”
- August 28, 1749 – March 22, 1832
- German
- Poet, playwright, novelist, philosopher, politician
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Quote
“Whoever wishes to keep a secret must hide the fact that he possesses one.”
Explanation
Goethe suggests that in order to truly keep a secret, one must not only conceal the secret itself but also the very knowledge that they are keeping something hidden. If others suspect that a person has a secret, it creates an underlying tension or curiosity, which can make the secret vulnerable to discovery. Therefore, the best way to keep a secret is to act as if there is nothing to hide, making it difficult for others to even entertain the possibility that a secret exists.
Historically, this idea touches on the nature of human curiosity and the subtle ways in which people may try to uncover what is being hidden. Goethe’s time, filled with societal and intellectual movements that valued personal privacy, saw secrets as important for individual sovereignty and a balance of power between oneself and others.
In modern contexts, this idea still resonates in personal and professional settings. Whether it’s maintaining confidentiality in the workplace or protecting personal matters, the idea of concealing not just the secret, but also the awareness of its existence, is crucial. For example, in business, someone who is planning a new project or product must often keep it under wraps—not just by hiding the details, but by avoiding revealing any signs that they are keeping something significant from others.
Goethe’s words remind us that secrecy is not just about protecting the information itself but also about creating an environment where others are not even suspicious of its existence, ensuring that the secret remains truly safe.
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