Public lives are lived out on the job and in the marketplace, where certain rules, conventions, laws, and social customs keep most of us in line. Private lives are lived out in the presence of family, friends, and neighbors who must be considered and respected even though the rules and proscriptions are looser than what's allowed in public. But in our secret lives, inside our own heads, almost anything goes.

Summary

This quote highlights the distinction between three different spheres of influence in our lives - the public, private, and secret - each governed by varying levels of societal norms and regulations. In the public sphere, people are subject to strict rules and conventions upheld in the job and marketplace. In the private sphere, involving family, friends, and neighbors, individuals must exercise consideration and respect whilst navigating somewhat looser regulations. However, within our secret lives, confined to our own thoughts, there are hardly any boundaries or restrictions, allowing for a greater extent of freedom and lack of inhibition.

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