--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A house may draw visitors, but it is the…" description: "\"A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone that can detain them.\" — Charles Caleb Colton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/charles-caleb-colton-270_detain_a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the_738149.png" --- # A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone… ![“A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone that can detain them.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/charles-caleb-colton-270_detain_a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the_738149.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/charles-caleb-colton-270_detain_a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the_738149.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/charles-caleb-colton-270_detain_a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the_738149.png) > “A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone that can detain them.” [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A host can attract guests, but only the owner can keep them. **In simple terms:** Only the owner can retain visitors. Key Takeaway Focus on personal responsibility for relationships. Themes responsibility relationships control Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - hosting events - personal relationships - leadership - customer retention Key Concepts ownership agency social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain connections beyond first impressions? - What personal qualities keep others close? A Different Perspective Even a good host cannot force loyalty without personal effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Detain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detain/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Hospitality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitality/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Possessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessor-417482/) [Possessor Detain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessor-detain-5769157/) [Visitors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visitors/) [Visitors Possessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visitors-possessor-5769158/) ## Related quotes > [It is equally offensive to speed a guest who would like to stay and to detain one who is anxious to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/it-is-equally-offensive-to-speed-a-guest-who-would-like-to-stay-and/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Visiting is a pleasure; being visited is usually a mixed or ambivalent joy. ... The visitor can always go home; the visitee is already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/visiting-is-a-pleasure-being-visited-is-usually-a-mixed-or-ambivalent/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [Visitors should conform as much as possible to the habits and customs of the house. They should be moderate in their demands for personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-marbury/visitors-should-conform-as-much-as-possible-to-the-habits-and-customs/) [Elisabeth Marbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-marbury/) > [Happy the man who never puts on a face, but receives every visitor with that countenance he has on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/happy-the-man-who-never-puts-on-a-face-but-receives-every-visitor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Now what is a guest? A thing of a day! A person who disturbs your routine and interferes with important concerns. Why should any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/now-what-is-a-guest-a-thing-of-a-day-a-person-who-disturbs-your/) [Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/) > [“He who masters the small becomes the rightful possessor of the great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/he-who-masters-the-small-becomes-the-rightful-possessor-of-the-great/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Extensive powers not exercised as far as was necessary have, I believe, scarcely ever failed to ruin the possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/extensive-powers-not-exercised-as-far-as-was-necessary-have-i-believe/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Never a possession, always the possessor, with skin as pale as smoke, and eyes tawny and sharp as yellow wine: Desire is everything you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/never-a-possession-always-the-possessor-with-skin-as-pale-as-smoke/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt/unlimited-power-corrupts-the-possessor/) [William Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt/) > [Never have I thought that I was the happy possessor of a alent; my sole concern has been to save myself by work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/never-have-i-thought-that-i-was-the-happy-possessor-of-a-alent-my/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Riches get their value from the mind of the possessor; they are blessings to those who know how to use them, and curses to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/riches-get-their-value-from-the-mind-of-the-possessor-they-are/) [Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/) > [ \[O\]pulence is always the result of theft, if not committed by the actual possessor, then by his predecessors. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/o-pulence-is-always-the-result-of-theft-if-not-committed-by-the/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [“When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/when-gold-and-jade-fill-the-hall-their-possessor-cannot-keep-them-safe/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [A man hath riches. Whence came they, and whither go they? for this is the way to form a judgment of the esteem which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jortin/a-man-hath-riches-whence-came-they-and-whither-go-they-for-this-is/) [John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) > [It is good to be the possessor of some mountain-top experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/it-is-good-to-be-the-possessor-of-some-mountain-top-experience/) [Vernon Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-johns/) ## More by Charles Caleb Colton > [Villainy that is vigilant will be an overmatch for virtue, if she slumber at her post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/villainy-that-is-vigilant-will-be-an-overmatch-for-virtue-if-she/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-beautiful-woman-if-poor-should-use-double-circumspection-for-her/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/to-dare-to-live-alone-is-the-rarest-courage-since-there-are-many-who/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/none-are-so-fond-of-secrets-as-those-who-do-not-mean-to-keep-them/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate, the nearer we arrive unto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/ignorance-lies-at-the-bottom-of-all-human-knowledge-and-the-deeper-we/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-ought-not-to-be-over-anxious-to-encourage-innovation-in-cases-of/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have differed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-owe-almost-all-our-knowledge-not-to-those-who-have-agreed-but-to/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/metaphysicians-have-been-learning-their-lessons-for-the-last-four/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/faith-and-works-are-necessary-to-our-spiritual-life-as-christians-as/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) [Explore all 778 Charles Caleb Colton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## More Detain quotes > [It should go without saying that regular citizens have no authority to arrest or detain anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-lujan-grisham/it-should-go-without-saying-that-regular-citizens-have-no-authority/) [Michelle Lujan Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-lujan-grisham/) > [It is equally offensive to speed a guest who would like to stay and to detain one who is anxious to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/it-is-equally-offensive-to-speed-a-guest-who-would-like-to-stay-and/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Joy is meant to be felt; its not meant to be detained. It is meant to be shared with others; not to be felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/joy-is-meant-to-be-felt-its-not-meant-to-be-detained-it-is-meant-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Now, the past has plenty to teach us, but I don't think it should be allowed to detain us against our will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-condell/now-the-past-has-plenty-to-teach-us-but-i-don-t-think-it-should-be/) [Pat Condell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-condell/) > [“It isnt for want of something to say-- something to tell you-- something you should know-- but to detain you-- keep you from going--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cid-corman/it-isnt-for-want-of-something-to-say-something-to-tell-you-something/) [Cid Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cid-corman/) > [People who reach the top of the tree are only those who haven't got the qualifications to detain them at the bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/people-who-reach-the-top-of-the-tree-are-only-those-who-haven-t-got/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [“Tradition is the prison where change is detained... To make a change, you need to agree that you are not going with the statement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/tradition-is-the-prison-where-change-is-detained-to-make-a-change-you/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Sentence every immoral thought for detention and prosecution. Immorality is a powerful gadget that brings down great monuments of success. Don’t entertain immorality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/sentence-every-immoral-thought-for-detention-and-prosecution/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Britain has a Terrorism Act, which has within it a portion called Schedule 7, which is quite unique. What it is is it gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harrison/britain-has-a-terrorism-act-which-has-within-it-a-portion-called/) [Sarah Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harrison/) > [“The subsistence mentality of a person is a prison in which his personal joy is detained. If you want to live in joy, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-subsistence-mentality-of-a-person-is-a-prison-in-which-his/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [In San Francisco, I am proud to say that one of my first mandates as district attorney was that my staff would never ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/in-san-francisco-i-am-proud-to-say-that-one-of-my-first-mandates-as/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [There are those who leave without our needing to detain them; we have said all there is to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eyre/there-are-those-who-leave-without-our-needing-to-detain-them-we-have/) [Richard Eyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eyre/) > [The great difficulty with Guantanamo is it was perceived correctly as being a place where people were not being detained subject to rules. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-great-difficulty-with-guantanamo-is-it-was-perceived-correctly-as/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [I do not - I never believed it's better to kill a terrorist than to detain him. We want to detain as many terrorists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/i-do-not-i-never-believed-it-s-better-to-kill-a-terrorist-than-to/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) [Browse all 15 Detain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone that can detain them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Caleb Colton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the-possessor-alone-that-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Detain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the-possessor-alone-that-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/charles-caleb-colton-270_detain_a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the_738149.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/charles-caleb-colton-270_detain_a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the_738149.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/charles-caleb-colton-270_detain_a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the_738149.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone that can detain them.” — Charles Caleb Colton", "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": "Charles Caleb Colton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A house may draw visitors, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the-possessor-alone-that-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-house-may-draw-visitors-but-it-is-the-possessor-alone-that-can/#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 } } ] } ```