He who permits wickedness commands it
Meaning: Silently allowing wrongdoing makes you as responsible as the wrongdoer.
Origin: Roman legal maxim (Qui non prohibet quod prohibere potest, consentire videtur), used in classical Roman law.
Translations
- French: Celui qui tolère le mal l'ordonne (literally: He who tolerates evil commands it)
- Spanish: Quien permite la maldad la ordena (literally: He who permits wickedness commands it)
- Japanese: 悪を許す者はそれを命じるに等しい (Aku wo yurusu mono wa sore wo meijiru ni hitoshii) (literally: He who permits evil is equal to commanding it)
More proverbs about Morality
- The truth is rarely pure and never simple — Reality is complex and nuanced; anyone claiming simple certainty should be viewed with sk…
- Character is what you do when no one is watching — True virtue is shown not in public performances but in private actions when there are no…
- The shortest answer is doing the thing itself — Action is more effective than deliberation; the most direct response to a challenge is to…
- Don't get above your raising — Humble origins should temper ambition; remember where you came from and maintain modest v…
- Trust your friends, but cut the cards — Verify even trusted relationships through precautions; friendship doesn't eliminate the n…
- You attract more flies with honey than vinegar — Kindness and pleasantness persuade people more effectively than hostility or harshness.
Loading the full interactive collection…