I have play'd the fool, the gross fool, to believe
The bosom of a friend will hold a secret
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I have play'd the fool, the gross fool, to believe
The bosom of a friend will hold a secret
Mine own could not contain.

He who gives up the smallest part of a secret has the rest no
longer in his power.
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He who gives up the smallest part of a secret has the rest no
longer in his power.
[Ger., Wer den kleinsten Theil eines Geheimnisses hingibt, hat
den andern nicht mehr in der Gewalt.]

When we desire to confine our words, we commonly say they are
spoken under the rose.
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When we desire to confine our words, we commonly say they are
spoken under the rose.
- Sir Thomas Browne,

For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak
freely: for I am persuaded that none read more

For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak
freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden
from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

Nothing is so oppressive as a secret: women find it difficult to
keep one long; and I know a read more

Nothing is so oppressive as a secret: women find it difficult to
keep one long; and I know a goodly number of men who are women in
this regard.
[Fr., Rien ne pese tant qu'un secret:
Le porter loin est difficile aux dames;
Et je sais meme sur ce fait
Bon nombre d'hommes que sont femmes.]

Secrets are things we give to others to keep for us.

Secrets are things we give to others to keep for us.

Men conceal the past scenes of their lives.
[Lat., Vitae poscaenia celant.]

Men conceal the past scenes of their lives.
[Lat., Vitae poscaenia celant.]

Thee is a skeleton on every house.

Thee is a skeleton on every house.

But that I am forbid
To tell the secrets of my prison house,
I could a tale read more

But that I am forbid
To tell the secrets of my prison house,
I could a tale unfold whose lightest word
Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres,
Thy knotted and combined locks to part,
And each particular hair to stand on end
Like quills upon the fretful porpentine.