# Value Three — Discretion [[american/American Character - The American Trust Code|← The American Trust Code]] · [[american/American Comportment - 08 - Conflict, Repair, and Discretion|Conflict, Repair, and Discretion]] ## Guard What Is Entrusted Discretion is the disciplined handling of information, access, intimacy, and another person's vulnerability. It protects confidence because not every truth belongs to every audience, every room, or every moment. A discreet person does not advertise proximity to private knowledge; the absence of display is part of the proof that the confidence was understood. Privacy in the American Trust Code is respect rather than hostility to observation or participation in systems. Institutions, sensors, records, and authorized oversight can be necessary instruments of competent national life; discretion governs lawful access, proper use, audience, retention, and professional conduct within those systems. The ethical question is what is done with what is seen. Discretion is one of the disciplines that keeps capability worthy of trust. **Practices of discretion** - Share entrusted information only with the authorized people who need it. - Protect documents, channels, rooms, and conversations according to consequence. - Refuse gossip, especially when the absent person cannot answer. - Never turn private hospitality or access into public status display. - Distinguish confidentiality from concealment of abuse, fraud, danger, or accountable fact. Discretion is tested in [[american/American Comportment - 04 - Correspondence and the Written Person|Correspondence]], [[american/American Comportment - 05 - Digital Manners|Digital Manners]], and [[american/American Comportment - 08 - Conflict, Repair, and Discretion|Conflict and Repair]]. Trust often enters a room as information; character determines whether it leaves damaged. <!-- BEGIN AMERICAN KNOWLEDGE ROUTER --> ## American Knowledge Router **System:** [[collections/American|American Collection]] · [[wiki/American System|American System]] · [[wiki/American Character|American Character]] · [[american/American Character - The American Trust Code|Branch source]] **Concepts:** [[wiki/Discretion|Discretion]] **Intelligence, defense, and alliance:** [[wiki/American Intelligence and Alliance Interface|American Intelligence and Alliance Interface]] · [[collections/The Civilian Intelligence Marketplace|The Civilian Intelligence Marketplace]] · [[collections/Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment|Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment]] <!-- END AMERICAN KNOWLEDGE ROUTER -->