"In all secrets there is a kind of guilt, however beautiful or joyful they may be, or for what good end they may be set to serve. Secrecy means evasion, and evasion means a problem to the moral mind"
- Gilbert Parker
About this Quote
Gilbert Parker's quote explores the complex interaction in between secrecy, morality, and the fundamental guilt that often accompanies concealed facts. At its core, the text recommends that the act of keeping a trick, regardless of the charm or joy it might hold, or even the honorable function it might serve, inevitably brings a sense of guilt. This guilt is rooted in the concept that secrecy involves a type of evasion-- an intentional act of withholding info from others.
The quote posits that when people select secrecy, they are typically sidestepping honesty or transparency, qualities that are valued in many moral systems. This evasion develops a stress within the ethical mind. To make this clearer, consider secrets that are preserved to extra someone's feelings or to produce a positive result. In spite of their positive intentions, these secrets still involve a departure from total honesty, which might lead to inner dispute or guilt for the individual harboring them.
In exploring why secrecy might lead to a sense of moral worry, it is essential to recognize the fundamental social nature of people. Trust and interaction are fundamental to strong social bonds, and secrets can undermine these structures by developing divisions and cultivating wonder about. Even when tricks are kept for seemingly good reasons, this possible disintegration of trust can result in ethical issues.
Additionally, Parker's quote suggests that the simple presence of a secret indicates an issue to be resolved. The issue, as explained, is among moral positioning. By picking to keep a trick, individuals might feel they are focusing on certain worths (such as protection or harmony) over others (like honesty or openness), resulting in an internal ethical dispute. This dispute even more emphasizes why secrecy is bound with a notion of guilt-- since it challenges the individual's ethical structure and may compel them to browse the murky waters of right and wrong. Hence, the quote highlights the ingrained moral ramifications connected to the apparently basic act of keeping a trick.