"If you want to keep something concealed from your enemy, don't disclose it to your friend"

The underlying message centers on the enduring caution one should exercise regarding the secrets or information they hold dear. Human relationships are often built on trust, yet that trust is never absolute. Even the closest friendships carry the risk of miscommunication, betrayal, or simple negligence. Details shared with friends may inadvertently slip into the open, or circumstances may change and friends could become estranged or adversarial. By stating that something kept from an enemy should not be disclosed to a friend, the philosopher highlights the fallibility of interpersonal bonds and the unpredictability inherent in human nature.

Every time sensitive information is shared, it leaves the circle of total secrecy. Even when exposed only to those most trusted, the danger increases that the information might travel further, intentionally or not. Friends may have confidants of their own, and what starts as a secret between two may rapidly multiply through social networks. Furthermore, people’s interests and allegiances can change over time, sometimes with surprising speed. A friend today might be an opponent tomorrow; a harmless slip in conversation could open vulnerabilities previously thought secure.

Trust forms a foundation of intimacy, but blind faith in others' discretion can be dangerous when serious matters are at play. Exercising restraint and discernment is not an act of suspicion but of prudence and self-preservation. One’s security, dignity, or strategic advantage may depend on selective silence more than on shared confidences. Wisdom, thus, lies in understanding human limitations. Words once spoken cannot be retracted, and even the strongest bonds are susceptible to pressures, whether through temptation, coercion, or mere accident.

Careful guardianship of information matters not only in matters of war or politics but also in personal affairs. Emotional safety, professional security, and social standing all depend on strategic discernment about what, when, and to whom one discloses private matters. The advice serves as a timeless reminder to weigh trust carefully and to remember that true secrecy exists only in silence.