Student Question
Which Shakespeare play and quote inspired Benjamin Franklin's statement, "Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead"?
"Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead." - Poor Richard's Almanac by Benjamin Franklin
Quick answer:
Benjamin Franklin's statement, "Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead," is inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In Act II, Scene iv, the Nurse, worried about the secrecy of Romeo and Juliet's plans, asks Romeo, "Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say/Two may keep counsel, putting one away?" This implies that secrets are best kept between fewer people, echoing Franklin's sentiment.
This is from "Romeo and Juliet." In Act II, the Nurse and her man, Peter, arrive at a street in Verona where Mercutio first approaches her with many puns and humorous remarks. Then, Romeo appears, telling her of the plan for Juliet and him to be married at Friar Lawrence's church. Romeo wishes to send Juliet the wedding plans via the Nurse, the young lovers' messenger. As he speaks with the Nurse, she warns Romeo to be careful with Juliet before their marriage. Romeo instructs the Nurse that his "man" will bring a rope ladder which Juliet can use to sneak out so they can be married. Worried that Romeo's man may divulge what Romeo and Juliet are about to do, she asks,
Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say/Two may keep counsel, putting one away? (II,iv,190)
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