---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want no one to know, don't do it."
description: "\"If you want no one to know, don't do it.\" — Chinese Proverb"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/chinese-proverb-11341_inspirational_if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it-1_1681470.jpg"
---

#  If you want no one to know, don't do it.

![“If you want no one to know, don't do it.” quote by Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/chinese-proverb-11341_inspirational_if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it-1_1681470.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/chinese-proverb-11341_inspirational_if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it-1_1681470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/chinese-proverb-11341_inspirational_if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it-1_1681470.jpg)

> “If you want no one to know, don't do it.”

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Keeping secrets requires not acting on them; silence is the only guarantee of privacy.

**In simple terms:** Secrets stay secret if you don’t act.

Key Takeaway

Avoid actions you want hidden.

Themes

privacy secrecy trust

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice proverb

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- online behavior
- workplace confidentiality

Key Concepts

ethical discretion self‑control

Questions to Reflect On

- What actions could you avoid to protect privacy?
- Is secrecy always ethical?

A Different Perspective

If you act, you risk exposure despite secrecy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-don/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-know/)

## Related quotes

> [“If you don't want to know, don't ask.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-garrity-friday-night-lights/if-you-don-t-want-to-know-don-t-ask/)

[Buddy Garrity Friday Night Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-garrity-friday-night-lights/)

> [I know you better than you know yourself. So don't say I'm crazy, I know very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fefe-dobson/i-know-you-better-than-you-know-yourself-so-don-t-say-i-m-crazy-i/)

[Fefe Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fefe-dobson/)

> [I'm a workaholic, and I know it. And I don't care to deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakin-matthews/i-m-a-workaholic-and-i-know-it-and-i-don-t-care-to-deal-with-it/)

[Dakin Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakin-matthews/)

> [“But one thing I do know, you don't screw with crazy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandy-nacole/but-one-thing-i-do-know-you-don-t-screw-with-crazy/)

[Brandy Nacole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandy-nacole/)

> [It won't do you a bit of good to know everything if you don't do anything with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-fitzhugh/it-won-t-do-you-a-bit-of-good-to-know-everything-if-you-don-t-do/)

[Louise Fitzhugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-fitzhugh/)

> [“Because I want to know how it works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-duntemann/because-i-want-to-know-how-it-works/)

[Jeff Duntemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-duntemann/)

> [I want you to know that everything I did, I did for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pol-pot/i-want-you-to-know-that-everything-i-did-i-did-for-my-country/)

[Pol Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pol-pot/)

> [If you don't know me... please don't judge me. just let me be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/if-you-don-t-know-me-please-don-t-judge-me-just-let-me-be/)

[Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/)

> [The more you know, the more you know you don't know and the more you know that you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/the-more-you-know-the-more-you-know-you-don-t-know-and-the-more-you/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [I know you don't care me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-name-shabcan/i-know-you-don-t-care-me/)

[She Name Shabcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/she-name-shabcan/)

> [If you know you don't have a win, then there's no use for you being in the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/if-you-know-you-don-t-have-a-win-then-there-s-no-use-for-you-being-in/)

[Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/)

> [If we don't know where we are, we don't know who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/if-we-don-t-know-where-we-are-we-don-t-know-who-we-are/)

[Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/)

> [I know myself, and when you start to really know who you are, you don't question it when you read what someone says about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-know-myself-and-when-you-start-to-really-know-who-you-are-you-don-t/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [If you don't know me, don't judge me. Nobody ever said you had to like me. \*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-know-me-don-t-judge-me-nobody-ever-said-you-had-to-like/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What we know is something, what we don't know is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lim-king-lok/what-we-know-is-something-what-we-don-t-know-is-everything/)

[Lim King Lok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lim-king-lok/)

## More by Chinese Proverb

> [Man is the head of the family, woman the neck that turns the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/man-is-the-head-of-the-family-woman-the-neck-that-turns-the-head/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [Neither fortunes nor flowers last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/neither-fortunes-nor-flowers-last-forever/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/do-not-confine-your-children-to-your-own-learning-for-they-were-born/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [One step at a time is good walking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/one-step-at-a-time-is-good-walking/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [Never do anything standing that you can do sitting, or anything sitting that you can do lying down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/never-do-anything-standing-that-you-can-do-sitting-or-anything/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/one-dog-barks-at-something-the-rest-bark-at-him/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [The lotus root breaks but fibers remain connected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/the-lotus-root-breaks-but-fibers-remain-connected/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [A careful foot can step anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/a-careful-foot-can-step-anywhere/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [If you suspect a man, don't employ him, and if you employ him, don't suspect him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/if-you-suspect-a-man-don-t-employ-him-and-if-you-employ-him-don-t/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [To attract good fortune, spend a new coin on an old friend, share an old pleasure with a new friend, and lift up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/to-attract-good-fortune-spend-a-new-coin-on-an-old-friend-share-an/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [Those who do not study are only cattle dressed up in mens clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/those-who-do-not-study-are-only-cattle-dressed-up-in-mens-clothes/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/the-miracle-is-not-to-fly-in-the-air-or-to-walk-on-the-water-but-to/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/great-souls-have-wills-feeble-ones-have-only-wishes/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/to-get-through-the-hardest-journey-we-need-take-only-one-step-at-a/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [The superior doctor prevents sickness; The mediocre doctor attends to impending sickness; The inferior doctor treats actual sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/the-superior-doctor-prevents-sickness-the-mediocre-doctor-attends-to/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

[Explore all 60 Chinese Proverb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

## More Inspirational quotes

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/)

[Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/)

[Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/)

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

[Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you want no one to know, don't do it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chinese Proverb"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspirational"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/chinese-proverb-11341_inspirational_if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it-1_1681470.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/chinese-proverb-11341_inspirational_if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it-1_1681470.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/chinese-proverb-11341_inspirational_if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it-1_1681470.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you want no one to know, don't do it.” — Chinese Proverb",
                "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": "Chinese Proverb",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you want no one to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/if-you-want-no-one-to-know-don-t-do-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
