Secrecy is the chastity of friendship.

Taylor likens secrecy to “chastity,” a virtue of self‑control and fidelity, to argue that friendship is safeguarded by disciplined restraint. Just as chastity protects the integrity of an intimate relationship, discretion protects the integrity of a friendship: what is entrusted in confidence should not be exposed for gossip, advantage, or display. The metaphor also implies that betrayal of confidences is not a minor lapse but a kind of moral infidelity. The aphorism elevates privacy from mere prudence to an ethical obligation, suggesting that trust is the core currency of friendship and that guarding another’s vulnerability is a primary proof of love and loyalty.