The animals to whom nature has given the faculty we call cunning know always when to use it, and use it wisely; but when man descends to cunning, he blunders and betrays.

People are worse at cunning than they believe. A creature that hides by instinct hides well and stops when hiding is no longer needed, but a person who decides to be clever about others usually overplays it, tells the wrong person, or gets found out by an inconsistency they did not think to cover. The scheme fails and the character is what remains visible afterwards. What was meant to protect you ends up describing you.

If you are managing what several people know, count the versions you are keeping. When there is more than one, the straightforward account will cost less this week than the maintenance will.