Secrecy sets barriers between men, but at the same time offers the seductive temptation to break through the barriers by gossip or confession.

Quote by Georg Simmel

Topics: Georg Simmel Quotes

The metropolis reveals itself as one of those great historical formations in which opposing streams...

The metropolis reveals itself as one of those great historical formations in which opposing streams...

For this reason, strangers are not really conceived as individuals, but as strangers of a...

For this reason, strangers are not really conceived as individuals, but as strangers of a...

Every superior personality, and every superior performance, has, for the average of mankind, something mysterious.

Every superior personality, and every superior performance, has, for the average of mankind, something mysterious.

For the division of labor demands from the individual an ever more one-sided accomplishment, and...

For the division of labor demands from the individual an ever more one-sided accomplishment, and...

Every relationship between two individuals or two groups will be characterized by the ratio of...

Every relationship between two individuals or two groups will be characterized by the ratio of...

The metropolis has always been the seat of the money economy.

The metropolis has always been the seat of the money economy.

A man is well educated when he knows where to find what he doesnt know.

A man is well educated when he knows where to find what he doesnt know.

The individual has become a mere cog in an enormous organization of things and powers...

The individual has become a mere cog in an enormous organization of things and powers...

For the metropolis presents the peculiar conditions which are revealed to us as the opportunities...

For the metropolis presents the peculiar conditions which are revealed to us as the opportunities...

For, to be a stranger is naturally a very positive relation; it is a specific...

For, to be a stranger is naturally a very positive relation; it is a specific...

On the one hand, life is made infinitely easy for the personality in that stimulations,...

On the one hand, life is made infinitely easy for the personality in that stimulations,...

In the latter case life rests upon a thousand presuppositions which the individual can never...

In the latter case life rests upon a thousand presuppositions which the individual can never...

Discretion is nothing other than the sense of justice with respect to the sphere of...

Discretion is nothing other than the sense of justice with respect to the sphere of...

Every relationship between persons causes a picture of each to take form in the mind...

Every relationship between persons causes a picture of each to take form in the mind...

The earliest phase of social formations found in historical as well as in contemporary social...

The earliest phase of social formations found in historical as well as in contemporary social...

The first internal relation that is essential to a secret society is the reciprocal confidence...

The first internal relation that is essential to a secret society is the reciprocal confidence...

The intellectually sophisticated person is indifferent to all genuine individuality, because relationships and reactions result...

The intellectually sophisticated person is indifferent to all genuine individuality, because relationships and reactions result...

The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve...

The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve...

Man's nature, originally good and common to all, should develop unhampered.

Man's nature, originally good and common to all, should develop unhampered.

Secrecy is thus, so to speak, a transition stadium between being and not-being.

Secrecy is thus, so to speak, a transition stadium between being and not-being.