"He that has eyes to see and ears to hear may convince himself that no mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips; betrayal oozes out of him at every pore"
- Sigmund Freud
About this Quote
This quote by Sigmund Freud delves into the intricacies of humanity and the problem of keeping secrets. Freud suggests that the truth about an individual can be perceived by those who are observant ("He that has eyes to see and ears to hear"). This indicates that an attentive and informative observer can discern nuances and unspoken facts about a specific, even when they are not overtly expressed.
The expression "no mortal can keep a trick" emphasizes Freud's belief that people inherently have a hard time to hide their real thoughts and emotions. It suggests that tricks have a method of manifesting themselves, no matter a person's efforts to hide them. This can be interpreted as a commentary on the psychological tension in between our natural desires or realities and the masks we use to comply with social expectations.
Freud then elaborates that even when an individual's "lips are quiet", implying they verbally keep information, their actions ("chatters with his fingertips") can betray their privacy. This metaphorical expression implies that non-verbal hints-- such as body language, facial expressions, and even worried routines-- can interact underlying truths more powerfully than spoken words. This links with Freud's broader psychoanalytic theory which typically focuses on the subconscious and the methods it reveals itself through different kinds of expression.
"Betrayal oozes out of him at every pore" further underscores the inevitability of reality escaping. in spite of intentional concealment. By utilizing the imagery of betrayal leaking from one's pores, Freud suggests that it is a natural, unmanageable process comparable to sweating. This brilliant imagery paints secrecy as an internal condition that will, eventually, end up being external and noticeable.
In general, Freud's quote highlights the paradoxical nature of secrecy-- that mankind's inmost truths have an insistence on being exposed, suggesting an inescapable authenticity intrinsic in human interaction.
"When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land"