--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it's not an absolute YES, it's a NO" description: "\"If it's not an absolute YES, it's a NO\" — Cheryl Richardson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/cheryl-richardson-6835_absolute_if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no-32_3236199.png" --- # If it's not an absolute YES, it's a NO ![“If it's not an absolute YES, it's a NO” quote by Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/cheryl-richardson-6835_absolute_if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no-32_3236199.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/cheryl-richardson-6835_absolute_if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no-32_3236199.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/cheryl-richardson-6835_absolute_if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no-32_3236199.png) > “If it's not an absolute YES, it's a NO” [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She asserts that anything less than enthusiastic agreement should be declined, emphasizing clear boundaries. **In simple terms:** Only a clear yes counts as consent. Key Takeaway Practice decisive, honest responses. Themes boundaries decision‑making clarity assertiveness Mood direct assertive Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - workplace negotiations - personal relationships - social invitations - project approvals - dating Key Concepts communication theory personal autonomy psychology of consent Questions to Reflect On - When is a hesitant yes appropriate? - How do you handle pressure to say yes? A Different Perspective May ignore nuanced situations where compromise is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute/) [Absolute Yes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-yes-6141318/) [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The only way to describe my involvement in Planes is that its an absolute dream come true for me. Getting to be a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/the-only-way-to-describe-my-involvement-in-planes-is-that-its-an/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [Art is the way to the absolute and to the essence of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/art-is-the-way-to-the-absolute-and-to-the-essence-of-human-life/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The separation of Church and State in everything relating to taxation should be absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-separation-of-church-and-state-in-everything-relating-to-taxation/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [“The man who refuses to judge, who neither agrees nor disagrees, who declares that there are no absolutes and believes that he escapes responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-man-who-refuses-to-judge-who-neither-agrees-nor-disagrees-who-2/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Action is limited and relative. Unlimited and absolute is the vision of him who sits at ease and watches, who walks in loneliness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/action-is-limited-and-relative-unlimited-and-absolute-is-the-vision/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [It should be remembered, as an axiom of eternal truth in politics, that whatever power in any government is independent, is absolute also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-should-be-remembered-as-an-axiom-of-eternal-truth-in-politics-that/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nobody in this world possesses absolute truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nobody-in-this-world-possesses-absolute-truth/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [What is freedom? There is no such thing as absolute freedom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-freedom-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-freedom/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Absolute perfection is here and now, not in some future, near or far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/absolute-perfection-is-here-and-now-not-in-some-future-near-or-far/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [What is liberty? There is no such thing as absolute liberty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-liberty-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-liberty/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [I can like something. You can like something. It's not an absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-can-like-something-you-can-like-something-it-s-not-an-absolute/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [The Absolute is the material of both God and man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-absolute-is-the-material-of-both-god-and-man/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Cheryl Richardson > [Your life is influenced by the energy you bring to every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/your-life-is-influenced-by-the-energy-you-bring-to-every-moment/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [Stop worrying about what others think. At the end of the day, you have to live with you. Trust yourself. No one has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/stop-worrying-about-what-others-think-at-the-end-of-the-day-you-have/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [Set a goal, write it down, and release the outcome. Small steps make a big difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/set-a-goal-write-it-down-and-release-the-outcome-small-steps-make-a/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [“Time is a created thing. To say I DON'T HAVE TIME is like saying I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/time-is-a-created-thing-to-say-i-don-t-have-time-is-like-saying-i-don/) [cheryl richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [Awareness is a powerful catalyst for positive change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/awareness-is-a-powerful-catalyst-for-positive-change/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [People start to heal the moment they feel heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/people-start-to-heal-the-moment-they-feel-heard/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [“Treat people with kindness because behind every face is a story that could use a little more love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/treat-people-with-kindness-because-behind-every-face-is-a-story-that/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [The more I trust my intuition and act on its wisdom, the more extraordinary my life becomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/the-more-i-trust-my-intuition-and-act-on-its-wisdom-the-more/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [There are no coincidences. Every event we experience and every person we meet has intentionally been put in our path to help raise our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/there-are-no-coincidences-every-event-we-experience-and-every-person/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [Feelings are you inner guidance system-your emotional compass. When you allow this compass to direct your actions you build self-trust. When you feel hungry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/feelings-are-you-inner-guidance-system-your-emotional-compass-when/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [It may just be that a true wake-up call creates a true shift in consciousness. My wake-up call left me no choice. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/it-may-just-be-that-a-true-wake-up-call-creates-a-true-shift-in/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [If you eliminate what no longer works, you illuminate what does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/if-you-eliminate-what-no-longer-works-you-illuminate-what-does/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [To practice Extreme Self-Care, you must learn to love yourself unconditionally, accept your imperfections, and embrace your vulnerabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/to-practice-extreme-self-care-you-must-learn-to-love-yourself/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [I let go of all I no longer love, need, or use. I adore space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/i-let-go-of-all-i-no-longer-love-need-or-use-i-adore-space/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [“Physical pleasure is awakening in me the desire for more pleasure in general.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/physical-pleasure-is-awakening-in-me-the-desire-for-more-pleasure-in/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) [Explore all 97 Cheryl Richardson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) ## More Absolute quotes > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Absolute is a game with only one player where Absolute forgets itself so it would have a reason to fulfill the motion while returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/absolute-is-a-game-with-only-one-player-where-absolute-forgets-itself/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“The necessity of nothingness does not create anything. The real value and meaning of the Being are not in its necessity but in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-necessity-of-nothingness-does-not-create-anything-the-real-value/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I can like something. You can like something. It's not an absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-can-like-something-you-can-like-something-it-s-not-an-absolute/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-absolute-everything-changes-everything-moves-everything/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [What is liberty? There is no such thing as absolute liberty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-liberty-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-liberty/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [“Energy is the world-born phenomenon, the world that puts itself in motion and flies into space by receiving space into itself. From this point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/energy-is-the-world-born-phenomenon-the-world-that-puts-itself-in/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“As we see it, space is possible only when the primordial Being swallows emptiness. Space is born when the Being accepts emptiness, the Nonbeing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/as-we-see-it-space-is-possible-only-when-the-primordial-being/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute faith can blind you to the consequences of the actions you allow. It can tell you it's okay to drop bombs on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-denton/absolute-faith-can-blind-you-to-the-consequences-of-the-actions-you/) [Andrew Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-denton/) > [“Zero is a gateway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/zero-is-a-gateway/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute perfection is here and now, not in some future, near or far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/absolute-perfection-is-here-and-now-not-in-some-future-near-or-far/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) [Browse all 631 Absolute quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If it's not an absolute YES, it's a NO", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cheryl Richardson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absolute" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/cheryl-richardson-6835_absolute_if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no-32_3236199.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/cheryl-richardson-6835_absolute_if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no-32_3236199.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/cheryl-richardson-6835_absolute_if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no-32_3236199.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If it's not an absolute YES, it's a NO” — Cheryl Richardson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cheryl Richardson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If it's not an absolute YES,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/if-it-s-not-an-absolute-yes-it-s-a-no/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```