---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of course, you won't confirm or deny it…"
description: "\"“Of course, you won't confirm or deny it, which means I'm probably right, since if I was wrong, you'd be gloating about it.”\" — Keith R.A. DeCandido"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/keith-r-a-decandido-23420_humorous_of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-w_906350.jpg"
---

#  Of course, you won't confirm or deny it, which means I'm…

![“Of course, you won't confirm or deny it, which means I'm probably right, since if I was wrong, you'd be gloating about it.” quote by Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/keith-r-a-decandido-23420_humorous_of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-w_906350.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/keith-r-a-decandido-23420_humorous_of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-w_906350.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/keith-r-a-decandido-23420_humorous_of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-w_906350.jpg)

> ““Of course, you won't confirm or deny it, which means I'm probably right, since if I was wrong, you'd be gloating about it.””

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker suggests that ambiguity can be used to imply correctness, turning silence into a strategic advantage.

**In simple terms:** Ambiguity can make you seem right.

Key Takeaway

Use uncertainty wisely.

Themes

communication strategy psychology

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- debates
- political interviews
- media statements

Key Concepts

confirmation bias strategic ambiguity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does silence influence perception?
- When is ambiguity unethical?

A Different Perspective

It can backfire if the audience perceives manipulation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Confirm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confirm/) [Confirm Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confirm-deny-1289977/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [James-sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/james-sterling-95963/) [Leverage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leverage/) [Means Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-probably-534180/) [Probably Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-right-512066/) [Won Confirm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/won-confirm-1289976/)

## Related quotes

> [The Lord won't confirm a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-angley/the-lord-won-t-confirm-a-lie/)

[Ernest Angley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-angley/)

> [“They were handy to have around, Nate's little gang. They were that wonderful combination of talented and noble. The former was useful, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/they-were-handy-to-have-around-nate-s-little-gang-they-were-that/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“Data will confirm or deny according to will, lest we interrogate it fully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hartley/data-will-confirm-or-deny-according-to-will-lest-we-interrogate-it/)

[Scott Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hartley/)

> [“I want to create a word that means “There’s probably a word for that,” but there’s probably a word for that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-want-to-create-a-word-that-means-there-s-probably-a-word-for-that/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> ['Results may vary.' means that it probably wont work for you at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/results-may-vary-means-that-it-probably-wont-work-for-you-at-all/)

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

> [“Up is down. Down is up.” “And that means … ?” “I’m probably half in love with a boy I don’t really like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/up-is-down-down-is-up-and-that-means-i-m-probably-half-in-love-with-a/)

[Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/)

> [If you think that I think that I'm better than you...well then you're probably right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laleh-javaheri/if-you-think-that-i-think-that-i-m-better-than-you-well-then-you-re/)

[Laleh Javaheri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laleh-javaheri/)

> [The man who believes he can do it is probably right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/the-man-who-believes-he-can-do-it-is-probably-right/)

[Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/)

> [He who hesitates is probably right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-hesitates-is-probably-right/)

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

> [The man who believes he can do it is probably right, and so is the man who believes he can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-man-who-believes-he-can-do-it-is-probably-right-and-so-is-the-man/)

[Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/)

> [“If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leaderhip/if-you-think-you-can-or-you-think-you-can-t-you-re-probably-right/)

[Leaderhip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leaderhip/)

> [Some people think they can; some think they can't. They are probably both right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/some-people-think-they-can-some-think-they-can-t-they-are-probably/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mulfat/whether-you-think-you-can-or-think-you-can-t-you-re-probably-right/)

[Mulfat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mulfat/)

> [Yeah, you're probably right," I admitted and slowly pulled myself out from underneath the covers. "You know, I really wish you'd catch onto the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/yeah-you-re-probably-right-i-admitted-and-slowly-pulled-myself-out/)

[Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/)

> [“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, either way you’re probably right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hunt-davis/whether-you-think-you-can-or-whether-you-think-you-can-t-either-way/)

[Ben Hunt-Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hunt-davis/)

## More by Keith R.A. DeCandido

> [“She's one you \*really\* care about, isn't she?" Eliot shook his head. "How can you read other people so well, and completely misread me?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/she-s-one-you-really-care-about-isn-t-she-eliot-shook-his-head-how/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“I’m afraid any plans you have to kill him will have to wait—I believe he is the only person on the ship who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/i-m-afraid-any-plans-you-have-to-kill-him-will-have-to-wait-i-believe/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“I get that--but why replace him with this guy? I mean, Dick Clark did American Bandstand. All this guy's done is deny that he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/i-get-that-but-why-replace-him-with-this-guy-i-mean-dick-clark-did/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“The trick is to recognize the flaw in yourself and work to correct it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/the-trick-is-to-recognize-the-flaw-in-yourself-and-work-to-correct-it/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“No, he focused on the one thing that he knew would keep him grounded the way the demon said he'd need to be. "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/no-he-focused-on-the-one-thing-that-he-knew-would-keep-him-grounded/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“Who's the genius who thought replacing Dick Clark with Ryan Seacrest was a good idea?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/who-s-the-genius-who-thought-replacing-dick-clark-with-ryan-seacrest/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“Age of the geek, baby!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/age-of-the-geek-baby/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“You get to help people in ways that I can't even imagine. Hell, \*you get to help people.\*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/you-get-to-help-people-in-ways-that-i-can-t-even-imagine-hell-you-get/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“Needle in a haystack's easy - just bring a magnet." Eliot stared witheringly at Hardison. "You take the poetry out of everything." "Says the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/needle-in-a-haystack-s-easy-just-bring-a-magnet-eliot-stared/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“All aspects of honor derive from honesty. A liar cannot truly be honorable, for where is the honor in deception?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/all-aspects-of-honor-derive-from-honesty-a-liar-cannot-truly-be/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“... I'd rather be prepared for one we don't have to fight than not be prepared for one we have to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/i-d-rather-be-prepared-for-one-we-don-t-have-to-fight-than-not-be/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“They were handy to have around, Nate's little gang. They were that wonderful combination of talented and noble. The former was useful, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/they-were-handy-to-have-around-nate-s-little-gang-they-were-that/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“Death is the one foe that everyone faces, the one foe that never loses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/death-is-the-one-foe-that-everyone-faces-the-one-foe-that-never-loses/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“What is that \*smell\*?" Eliot shook his head. "I keep telling you, it's fresh air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/what-is-that-smell-eliot-shook-his-head-i-keep-telling-you-it-s-fresh/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

> [“I can follow pretty much every programming language out there, I can make a two-hundred-year-old diary out of some really nasty ingredients, I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/i-can-follow-pretty-much-every-programming-language-out-there-i-can/)

[Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

[Explore all 26 Keith R.A. DeCandido quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/)

## More Confirm quotes

> [“For by this very fact, individuals confirm the system, fulfill the system, make the system, are the system.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/for-by-this-very-fact-individuals-confirm-the-system-fulfill-the/)

[Václav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/)

> [“I was living for one thing only, and that was to confirm my own lack of feeling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-was-living-for-one-thing-only-and-that-was-to-confirm-my-own-lack/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [I'd like to see a ghost. It would confirm there's an afterlife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/i-d-like-to-see-a-ghost-it-would-confirm-there-s-an-afterlife/)

[Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/)

> [The Lord won't confirm a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-angley/the-lord-won-t-confirm-a-lie/)

[Ernest Angley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-angley/)

> [I hate when I have to confirm my email to sign up for something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-when-i-have-to-confirm-my-email-to-sign-up-for-something/)

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

> [Aching all over, we reached level ground again, and Mr. Christy withdrew his claims, and agreed that no road anywhere else could possibly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-burnett-tylor/aching-all-over-we-reached-level-ground-again-and-mr-christy-withdrew/)

[Edward Burnett Tylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-burnett-tylor/)

> [“If you were here alone, that means you don’t have anyone who can confirm your story,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-potts/if-you-were-here-alone-that-means-you-don-t-have-anyone-who-can/)

[Meredith Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-potts/)

> [“Symbols,” Langdon said, “in no way confirm the presence of their original creators.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/symbols-langdon-said-in-no-way-confirm-the-presence-of-their-original/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [I can confirm that Poland should become a eurozone country, and not just because of the treaties that have been signed, but because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-tusk/i-can-confirm-that-poland-should-become-a-eurozone-country-and-not/)

[Donald Tusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-tusk/)

> [“The wall lit up red to confirm the point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-sakavic/the-wall-lit-up-red-to-confirm-the-point/)

[Nora Sakavic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-sakavic/)

> [Economists who have studied the relationship between education and economic growth confirm what common sense suggests: The number of college degrees is not nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/economists-who-have-studied-the-relationship-between-education-and/)

[Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/)

> [I dress according to the requirement of the film, as a true actor. Off the camera, I'm just me. I have my preferences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-balan/i-dress-according-to-the-requirement-of-the-film-as-a-true-actor-off/)

[Vidya Balan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-balan/)

> [“He smiled. "How kind of you to confirm what I already know. Perhaps next you will introduce me to myself. I hear I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-duran/he-smiled-how-kind-of-you-to-confirm-what-i-already-know-perhaps-next/)

[Meredith Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-duran/)

> [I can confirm that I have been released from prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/i-can-confirm-that-i-have-been-released-from-prison/)

[Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/)

> [I knew what Saint Dane was sensing. I knew why he was confused. he thought I was done. He thought we were done. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-knew-what-saint-dane-was-sensing-i-knew-why-he-was-confused-he/)

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

[Browse all 36 Confirm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confirm/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Of course, you won't confirm or deny it, which means I'm probably right, since if I was wrong, you'd be gloating about it.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Keith R.A. DeCandido"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-which-means-i-m-probably-right/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Confirm"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-which-means-i-m-probably-right/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/keith-r-a-decandido-23420_humorous_of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-w_906350.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/keith-r-a-decandido-23420_humorous_of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-w_906350.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/keith-r-a-decandido-23420_humorous_of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-w_906350.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Of course, you won't confirm or deny it, which means I'm probably right, since if I was wrong, you'd be…” — Keith R.A. DeCandido",
                "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": "Keith R.A. DeCandido",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Of course, you won't confirm or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-which-means-i-m-probably-right/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/of-course-you-won-t-confirm-or-deny-it-which-means-i-m-probably-right/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
