--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not that there are no masters, but…" description: "\"It's not that there are no masters, but that there are many. And the job of the solicitor general is to balance those masters and to accommodate them a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/elena-kagan-22833_accommodate_it-s-not-that-there-are-no-masters-but-t_1721302.jpg" --- # It's not that there are no masters, but that there are… ![“It's not that there are no masters, but that there are many. And the job of the solicitor general is to balance those masters and to accommodate them all, each in their proper places, wisely and well and in so doing to represent the people of the United States.” quote by Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/elena-kagan-22833_accommodate_it-s-not-that-there-are-no-masters-but-t_1721302.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/elena-kagan-22833_accommodate_it-s-not-that-there-are-no-masters-but-t_1721302.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/elena-kagan-22833_accommodate_it-s-not-that-there-are-no-masters-but-t_1721302.jpg) > “It's not that there are no masters, but that there are many. And the job of the solicitor general is to balance those masters and to accommodate them all, each in their proper places, wisely and well and in so doing to represent the people of the United States.” [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing multiple authoritative perspectives requires wise accommodation to represent the people. **In simple terms:** Balance many masters wisely to serve the public. Key Takeaway Integrate diverse expertise responsibly. Themes law governance balance Mood analytical serious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - policy drafting - legal advocacy - government advisory - judicial decision‑making Key Concepts jurisprudence pluralism public service Questions to Reflect On - How to decide which authority to prioritize? - What criteria ensure fair representation? A Different Perspective Conflicting masters may cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accommodate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accommodate/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Balance Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance-masters-1341045/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Masters Accommodate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters-accommodate-1341043/) [Masters Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters-job-1341044/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Solicitor General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solicitor-general-1169570/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [To have the opportunity to lead the Solicitor General's office is the honor of a lifetime. As you know, this is an office with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/to-have-the-opportunity-to-lead-the-solicitor-general-s-office-is-the/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [I think the nine justices think the solicitor general is the 35th clerk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/i-think-the-nine-justices-think-the-solicitor-general-is-the-35th/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [ I feel so blessed to have had the chance to do this job \[ U.S. Solicitor General\] in this moment in our history. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/i-feel-so-blessed-to-have-had-the-chance-to-do-this-job-u-s-solicitor/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [ Donald Verrilli has argued 37 cases in five years on behalf of the \[Barak\] Obama administration. Many of them turned out to be truly… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahlia-lithwick/donald-verrilli-has-argued-37-cases-in-five-years-on-behalf-of-the/) [Dahlia Lithwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahlia-lithwick/) > [The Solicitor General is responsible for overseeing appellate litigation on behalf of the United States and with representing the United States in the Supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-solicitor-general-is-responsible-for-overseeing-appellate/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [When we're not a party, we sometimes file as amicus, as friend of the court, 25, 30 times a term, sometimes more. And in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/when-we-re-not-a-party-we-sometimes-file-as-amicus-as-friend-of-the/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [When I worked in the Department of Justice, in the office of the solicitor general, it was my job to argue cases for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/when-i-worked-in-the-department-of-justice-in-the-office-of-the/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [The solicitor general is sometimes referred to as the 10th Supreme Court justice - a pretty important position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/the-solicitor-general-is-sometimes-referred-to-as-the-10th-supreme/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Once you run for office, you're in it - sort of like going into the military. You'd better be damned sure it is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy-jr/once-you-run-for-office-you-re-in-it-sort-of-like-going-into-the/) [John F. Kennedy Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy-jr/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) [Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/) > [In general, if a couple cannot expand their original rules and boundaries to accommodate personal growth, the relationship disintegrates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/in-general-if-a-couple-cannot-expand-their-original-rules-and/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [In degenerating programmes, however, theories are fabricated only in order to accommodate known facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imre-lakatos/in-degenerating-programmes-however-theories-are-fabricated-only-in/) [Imre Lakatos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imre-lakatos/) > [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) ## More by Elena Kagan > [My politics would be, must be, have to be, completely separate from my judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/my-politics-would-be-must-be-have-to-be-completely-separate-from-my/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [I have no regrets. I don't believe in looking back. What I am proudest of? Working really hard... and achieving as much as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/i-have-no-regrets-i-don-t-believe-in-looking-back-what-i-am-proudest/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [In our own times, a coherent socialist movement is nowhere to be found in the United States. Americans are more likely to speak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/in-our-own-times-a-coherent-socialist-movement-is-nowhere-to-be-found/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [I owe a debt of gratitude to two other living Justices. Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg paved the way for me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/i-owe-a-debt-of-gratitude-to-two-other-living-justices-sandra-day-o/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [If there is an ‘overabundance' of an idea in the absence of direct governmental action -- which there well might be when compared with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/if-there-is-an-overabundance-of-an-idea-in-the-absence-of-direct/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [I've led a school whose faculty and students examine and discuss and debate every aspect of our law and legal system. And what I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/i-ve-led-a-school-whose-faculty-and-students-examine-and-discuss-and/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [I think the nine justices think the solicitor general is the 35th clerk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/i-think-the-nine-justices-think-the-solicitor-general-is-the-35th/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [Suppose a state said that, Because we think that the focus of marriage really should be on procreation, we are not going to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/suppose-a-state-said-that-because-we-think-that-the-focus-of-marriage/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [I think people are great in many different ways. So, I think some justices are great because they have extraordinary wisdom, they have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/i-think-people-are-great-in-many-different-ways-so-i-think-some/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [The Supreme Court, of course, has the responsibility of ensuring that our government never oversteps its proper bounds or violates the rights of individuals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/the-supreme-court-of-course-has-the-responsibility-of-ensuring-that/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [American radicals cannot afford to become their own worst enemies. In unity lies their only hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/american-radicals-cannot-afford-to-become-their-own-worst-enemies-in/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [It was a very cool thing to be a smart girl, as opposed to some other, different kind. And I think that made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/it-was-a-very-cool-thing-to-be-a-smart-girl-as-opposed-to-some-other/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [Perhaps most important, judges will have goals. And because this is so, judges will often try to mold and steer the law in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/perhaps-most-important-judges-will-have-goals-and-because-this-is-so/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [In fact, corporate and union moneys go overwhelmingly to incumbents, so limiting that money, as Congress did in the campaign finance law, may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/in-fact-corporate-and-union-moneys-go-overwhelmingly-to-incumbents-so/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [Like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/like-all-jews-i-was-probably-at-a-chinese-restaurant/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) [Explore all 27 Elena Kagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) ## More Accommodate quotes > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [In degenerating programmes, however, theories are fabricated only in order to accommodate known facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imre-lakatos/in-degenerating-programmes-however-theories-are-fabricated-only-in/) [Imre Lakatos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imre-lakatos/) > [In general, if a couple cannot expand their original rules and boundaries to accommodate personal growth, the relationship disintegrates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/in-general-if-a-couple-cannot-expand-their-original-rules-and/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) [Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/) > [Once you run for office, you're in it - sort of like going into the military. You'd better be damned sure it is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy-jr/once-you-run-for-office-you-re-in-it-sort-of-like-going-into-the/) [John F. Kennedy Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy-jr/) > [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [With a basic understanding of all humans as brothers and sisters, we can appreciate the usefulness of different systems and ideologies that can accommodate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/with-a-basic-understanding-of-all-humans-as-brothers-and-sisters-we/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I can't really change my life to accommodate people who are jealous. I don't see why I should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-can-t-really-change-my-life-to-accommodate-people-who-are-jealous-i/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/we-travel-to-open-our-hearts-and-eyes-and-learn-more-about-the-world/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Many women have made the mistake of changing their beliefs to accommodate their work; it must be the other way around. No circumstance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/many-women-have-made-the-mistake-of-changing-their-beliefs-to/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [You have to be open to change. I never stop making sure that what I say is the best of what could be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/you-have-to-be-open-to-change-i-never-stop-making-sure-that-what-i/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [Be content with what you have Be satisfied with your dwelling place to accommodate your enterprise, Restrain your tongue, And shed tears of regret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/son-of-masud-abdullah/be-content-with-what-you-have-be-satisfied-with-your-dwelling-place/) [Son of Masud Abdullah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/son-of-masud-abdullah/) > [In the years since The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin, Voinovich has sharpened his satire, and Monumental Propaganda is a novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kalfus/in-the-years-since-the-life-and-extraordinary-adventures-of-private/) [Ken Kalfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kalfus/) > [To constitute a dispute there must be two parties. To understand it well, both parties and all the circumstances must be fully heard; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/to-constitute-a-dispute-there-must-be-two-parties-to-understand-it/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Browse all 237 Accommodate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accommodate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not that there are no masters, but that there are many. 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