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About this quote

What does it mean?
With just six lines written by an honest man one can find enough to hang him.
In plain terms
You can find ways to destroy someone from very few words they wrote.
What can you take from it?
Words can be used to incriminate anyone.

Where it applies

  • politics
  • legal
  • personal

Putting it to work

  • Be careful what you write
  • Secure your letters

Questions to consider

  • How many words can hurt you?
  • Who reads your words?

Another view

This assumes a hostile interpreter which is not always the case.

More from Cardinal Richelieu

  1. Pour tromper un rival l'artifice est permis; on peut tout employer contres ses ennemis.

    Permalink to quote #2
  2. Savoir dissimuler est le savoir des rois.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. Carry on any enterprise as if all future success depends on it.

    Permalink to quote #4

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