My psychiatrist once told me that she thought I was well read but not well educated. That was a few months ago and I have often wondered what she meant. Here is the link to an earlier blog on this topic:
I think one of the reasons the lady mentioned above thought that I was not well educated is that I don’t keep secrets too well. If you are a regular reader of my blog then you will have noticed that. I write about any topic – even very private ones.
I think you would do well NOT to follow my example. I quite simply have nothing to lose. I am a dropout – careerwise, socially and in many other ways. I am – or was – also notorious. The same – most likely – is not true of you.
The average reader of this blog would be well advised to follow the advice of The Arabian Nights. Here is sage worldly wisdom on the subject of keeping secrets:
(The context – A porter is asking three ladies to allow him to spend the night in their house and give them (the ladies) company while they eat, drink and make merry. He said:)
You are three and want a fourth who shall be a person of good sense and prudence; smart witted, and one apt to keep careful counsel.” His words pleased and amused them much; and they laughed at him and said, “And who is to assure us of that? We are maidens and we fear to entrust our secret where it may not be kept, for we have read in a certain chronicle the lines of one Ibn al-Sumam:—
Hold fast thy secret and to none unfold ✿ Lost is a secret when that secret’s told:
An fail thy breast thy secret to conceal ✿ How canst thou hope another’s breast shall hold?
And Abu Nowás said well on the same subject:—
Who trusteth secret to another’s hand ✿ Upon his brow deserveth burn of brand!”
When the Porter heard their words he rejoined, “By your lives! I am a man of sense and a discreet, who hath read books and perused chronicles; I reveal the fair and conceal the foul and I act as the poet adviseth:—
None but the good a secret keep ✿ And good men keep it unrevealed:
It is to me a well-shut house ✿ With keyless locks and door ensealed.”[
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/51252/pg51252-images.html
This passage tells you all you need to know about what to do with secrets – your own as well as that of others. And be double careful when it comes to the secrets of ladies.
There is much sage worldly wisdom in The Arabian Nights and knowledge of human nature. As a guide to life and human nature it is of the top drawer. You would do well to read this book and other classics instead of depending on social media to be your guide. Just do a search for Malcolm C. Lyons’ three volume translation of The Arabian Nights on Amazon.
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