To keep your secret is wisdom to expect others to keep it is folly.

The aphorism draws a sharp line between personal prudence and misplaced trust. Keeping one’s own secret is framed as “wisdom” because it recognizes human fallibility: once information is shared, it escapes one’s control and becomes vulnerable to gossip, self-interest, or simple carelessness. Calling it “folly” to expect others to keep a secret underscores a realistic—perhaps cynical—view of social life: discretion is rare, incentives change, and even well-meaning confidants may reveal what they know. The saying functions as a caution about reputation and power, implying that secrecy is safest when it remains self-contained.