silence gives consent

silence gives consent

If one does not object to or stand up against something that one does not like or agree with, then one is complicit in permitting it to happen. People like to pretend they are outraged by these policies, but when they do nothing to stop them, their silence gives consent. A: "Are you sure Dad is OK with us borrowing the car?" B: "I texted him about it and he didn't say we couldn't. In my book, silence gives consent."
See also: consent, give, silence
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Silence gives consent.

Prov. If you do not object to what someone says or does, you can be assumed to agree with or condone it. Jill: What did Fred say when you told him we were thinking about leaving the office early? Jane: He didn't say anything. Jill: Then he must not mind if we go. Silence gives consent.
See also: consent, give, silence
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • a prophet is not without honor save in his own country
  • neither fish nor flesh
  • neither fish nor fowl
  • neither fish, flesh, nor fowl
  • not (one's) long suit
  • hope not
  • (I) hope not
  • not for a second
  • not for a minute
  • not for a moment
References in classic literature
The steward was about to act on the old principle, that silence gives consent, when Hiram Doolittle, attended by Jotham, stalked out of the crowd, across the open space, and approached the stocks.
Pioneers
To be sure I must; and therefore I may assume that your silence gives consent. Now what are spirits or demigods?
Apology
First, if silence gives consent, the pope may be headed in the yes direction on the question of women deacons.
We await the decision about women deacons
The Government also introduced a rule of "silence gives consent", which regulates actions of government agencies and licensees.
Kyrgyz Government intends to adopt new law on licenses and permissions by late-2013
C* Said Plato " I shall assume that your silence gives consent." The most ironic and intriguing thing in all of this betrayal campaign by Debby and Afewerki is that it has been met with an absolute silence by the leadership of The Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM).
Is South Sudan's Referendum up for sale?
As they departed, Gaddafi remarked that "silence gives consent" -- so unless they openly oppose him at the next summit, the United States of Africa will then automatically come into existence.
Gaddafi, king of Africa