--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I shall assume that your silence gives…" description: "\"I shall assume that your silence gives consent.\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/plato-103_assuming_i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-c_2828939.jpg" --- # I shall assume that your silence gives consent. ![“I shall assume that your silence gives consent.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/plato-103_assuming_i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-c_2828939.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/plato-103_assuming_i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-c_2828939.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/plato-103_assuming_i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-c_2828939.jpg) > “I shall assume that your silence gives consent.” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silence is interpreted as agreement, suggesting that inaction can be taken as consent. **In simple terms:** Not speaking can be seen as agreeing Key Takeaway Speak up to avoid unintended consent Themes communication consent silence Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - legal agreements - team meetings - personal boundaries Key Concepts Ethics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - When have you assumed consent from silence? - How can you ensure clear agreement? A Different Perspective Silence may be misread as agreement ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assume Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assume-silence-1158383/) [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) [Gives Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gives-consent-691843/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Shall Assume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-assume-3644445/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silence Gives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence-gives-433308/) ## Related quotes > [To be sure I must; and therefore I may assume that your silence gives consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/to-be-sure-i-must-and-therefore-i-may-assume-that-your-silence-gives/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Your silence gives consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/your-silence-gives-consent/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [ Silence gives consent. \[Lat., Qui tacet, consentire videtur.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-boniface-viii/silence-gives-consent-lat-qui-tacet-consentire-videtur/) [Pope Boniface VIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-boniface-viii/) > [Silence always gives consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/silence-always-gives-consent/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [Silence gives consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/silence-gives-consent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let no one tell me that silence gives consent, because whoever is silent dissents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-isabel-barreno/let-no-one-tell-me-that-silence-gives-consent-because-whoever-is/) [Maria Isabel Barreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-isabel-barreno/) > [“I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-celebrate-myself-and-sing-myself-and-what-i-assume-you-shall-assume/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-celebrate-myself-and-sing-myself-and-what-i-assume-you-shall-assume-2/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [S0metimes,. silence gives a better explanati0n 0f what y0u feeL,,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megz/s0metimes-silence-gives-a-better-explanati0n-0f-what-y0u-feel/) [Megz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megz/) > [To women silence gives their proper grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/to-women-silence-gives-their-proper-grace/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Silence gives the proper grace to women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/silence-gives-the-proper-grace-to-women/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Silence gives us a new way of looking at something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/silence-gives-us-a-new-way-of-looking-at-something/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We need silence to be alone with God, to speak to him, to listen to him, to ponder his words deep in our hearts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-need-silence-to-be-alone-with-god-to-speak-to-him-to-listen-to-him/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The trees, the flowers, the plants grow in silence. The stars, the sun, the moon move in silence. Silence gives us a new perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-trees-the-flowers-the-plants-grow-in-silence-the-stars-the-sun/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [To become an an effective listener, you need to learn the power of silence. Silence gives you the opportunity to think about what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-become-an-an-effective-listener-you-need-to-learn-the-power-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Plato > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-as-nobody-may-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He was a wise man who invented God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-god/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-let-me-tell-you-that-the-more-the-pleasures-of-the-body-fade-away/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“What shall we say about those spectators, then, who can see a plurality of beautiful things, but not beauty itself, and who are incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/what-shall-we-say-about-those-spectators-then-who-can-see-a-plurality/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so that nobody will believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-that-nobody-will-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must, if we are to be consistent, and if we re to have a real pedigree herd, mate the best of our men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-must-if-we-are-to-be-consistent-and-if-we-re-to-have-a-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Explore all 1,278 Plato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I shall assume that your silence gives consent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-consent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-consent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/plato-103_assuming_i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-c_2828939.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/plato-103_assuming_i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-c_2828939.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/plato-103_assuming_i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-c_2828939.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I shall assume that your silence gives consent.” — Plato", "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": "Plato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I shall assume that your silence...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-consent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-shall-assume-that-your-silence-gives-consent/#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 } } ] } ```