For sooner will men hold fire in their mouths than keep a secret.
—Petronius, c. 60
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Quotes
Secrecy lies at the very core of power.
—Elias Canetti, 1960The first duty of a good inquisitor is to suspect especially those who seem sincere to him.
—Umberto Eco, 1980If the world were good for nothing else, it is a fine subject for speculation.
—William Hazlitt, 1823Secrets define us, they mark us, they set us apart from all the others. The secrets which we preserve provide a key to who we are, deep down.
—Nuruddin Farah, 1998Guard more faithfully the secret which is confided to you than the money which is entrusted to your care.
—Isocrates, c. 370 BCThree may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
—Benjamin Franklin, 1735If you read somebody’s diary, you get what you deserve.
—David Sedaris, 2004There is a sickness among tyrants: they cannot trust their friends.
—Aeschylus, c. 458 BC