Concealment and secrecy have been part of human history since the beginning of time. There are many reasons why people hide things, whether it’s to protect themselves or others, to keep a secret, or simply because they want to be left alone. Whatever the reason, hiding in plain sight has become an art form. Here are 50 quotes on concealment and secrecy that will make you think about the different ways people hide things.
The best place to hide a leaf is in the forest.
Unknown
This quote means that it is easier to conceal something in a place where there are many similar objects than to hide something in a place where it is unique.
Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.
Benjamin Franklin
This quote means that it is difficult to keep a secret if more than one person knows about it.
Secrecy is the enemy of efficiency, but don’t let anyone know it.
Ric Ocasek
This quote means that keeping secrets can slow down progress, but people still do it anyway.
It’s not what you know that counts, it’s what others think you know.
Unknown
This quote means that sometimes it is more important to give the impression of knowledge than to actually possess it.
It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter lies in the depth, where few are willing to search for it.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This quote means that it is easier to find fault with something than to find the truth about it.
Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.
Jane Austen
This quote means that sometimes people pretend to be humble to make themselves look good.
Knowing a great deal is not the same as being smart; intelligence is not information alone but also judgment, the manner in which information is collected and used.
Carl Sagan
This quote means that having knowledge does not necessarily make someone intelligent; using that knowledge in a wise manner does.
The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.
Groucho Marx
This quote means that if you can pretend to be honest and fair, other people will trust you even if you are not.
When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.
Walt Disney
This quote means that being curious can lead to discovering new things and experiences.
The best way to keep a secret is to pretend there isn’t one.
Margaret Atwood
This quote means that sometimes it is better to ignore a secret than to acknowledge it.
You can’t keep a secret if it never existed in the first place.
Unknown
This quote means that it is impossible to keep a secret if no one knows about it.
There are three things that can’t be hidden: coughing, poverty, and love.
Yiddish proverb
This quote means that certain things are impossible to conceal, such as a cough, being poor, or being in love.
Those who are skilled in combat do not become angered, those who are skilled at winning do not become afraid. Thus the wise win before they fight, while the ignorant fight to win.
Sun Tzu
This quote means that those who are truly skilled at something do not let their emotions get in the way, and they win before the battle even begins by being prepared.
It’s not the lie that bothers me. It’s the insult to my intelligence that I find offensive.
Unknown
This quote means that it is not the act of lying that is upsetting, but the fact that someone thinks they can fool you.
Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it.
Mark Twain
This quote means that it is not always necessary to tell the truth to someone if they don’t deserve it.
It is easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.
Mark Twain
This quote means that it is easier to deceive someone than to make them see the truth once they have been fooled.
People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe.
Andy Rooney
This quote means that people are more likely to believe something if it supports their existing beliefs, even if it is not true.
It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
Confucius
This quote means that it is worse to doubt your friends than to be fooled by them.
Trust, but verify.
Ronald Reagan
This quote means that it is important to trust others, but it is also important to confirm that they are trustworthy.
People are like onions; there are many layers to uncover.
Unknown
This quote means that people are complex and there is always more to discover about them.
It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.
Maurice Switzer
This quote means that it is better to say nothing than to say something foolish.
Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.
Lao Tzu
This quote means that those who truly know something do not feel the need to talk about it, while those who talk a lot often do not truly know what they are talking about.
Don’t speak unless you can improve on the silence.
Spanish proverb
This quote means that it is better to say nothing than to say something that does not add to the conversation.
There is no such thing as a secret. There is only information that is yet to be made public.
Unknown
This quote means that secrets do not truly exist because eventually, the information will become known.
The best way to keep a secret is to tell no one.
Unknown
This quote means that the only way to truly keep a secret is to never tell anyone.
Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of the state.
Cardinal Richelieu
This quote means that keeping secrets is crucial in matters of government and politics.
Secrecy is the soul of all great designs.
Charles de Gaulle
This quote means that secrecy is necessary for the success of great plans or ideas.
Secrecy is the enemy of democracy, but transparency can be its friend.
Alan Dershowitz
This quote means that keeping secrets can harm democracy, but being open and transparent can help it.
The truth is rarely pure and never simple.
Oscar Wilde
This quote means that the truth is often complicated and not always easy to understand.
People only see what they are prepared to see.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
This quote means that people only notice things that they are ready or willing to see.
Nothing is so common as the wish to be remarkable.
William Shakespeare
This quote means that many people want to be special or unique.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
Stephen Hawking
This quote means that thinking you know everything can prevent you from learning more.
What is done in the dark will be brought to the light.
Unknown
This quote means that secrets or dishonest actions will eventually be exposed.
There are no secrets that time does not reveal.
Jean Racine
This quote means that eventually, all secrets will become known.
It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
Mark Twain
This quote means that it is not about the size or strength of a person, but about their determination and courage.
Be careful who you trust, the devil was once an angel.
Unknown
This quote means that even those who seem good can turn out to be bad.
The devil is in the details.
Unknown
This quote means that small details can be important and can make a big difference.
The more you know, the less you need to say.
Jim Rohn
This quote means that when you truly understand something, you don’t need to talk about it as much.
People who repeatedly attack your confidence and self-esteem are quite aware of your potential, even if you are not.
Wayne Gerard Trotman
This quote means that people who try to bring you down know how capable you are, even if you don’t.
When in doubt, tell the truth.
Mark Twain
This quote means that when you are unsure, it is always best to be honest.
The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.
Gloria Steinem
This quote means that hearing the truth can be difficult or upsetting at first, but it is ultimately liberating.
The only way to keep a secret is to make sure the other person is dead.
Unknown
This quote means that the only way to truly keep a secret is to ensure that no one else knows about it.
It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.
W. Edwards Deming
This quote means that change is not always necessary, but it is often necessary for survival.
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
Sun Tzu
This quote means that even in difficult or chaotic situations, there is the potential for something positive to happen.
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
Charles Darwin
This quote means that those who are most adaptable to change are the most likely to survive and thrive.
Nothing can be concealed from a person who has earned your trust.
Unknown
This quote means that if you trust someone, they will have access to all information
