---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As history shows us, when colonization is…"
description: "\"As history shows us, when colonization is voluntary, people will self-select better than any testing system. It’s like those foolish attempts to contro..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/orson-scott-card-134_colonization_as-history-shows-us-when-colonization-is_2559472.png"
---

#  As history shows us, when colonization is voluntary…

![“As history shows us, when colonization is voluntary, people will self-select better than any testing system. It’s like those foolish attempts to control immigration to American based on the traits that were deemed desirable, when in fact the only trait that defines Americans historically is…” quote by Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/orson-scott-card-134_colonization_as-history-shows-us-when-colonization-is_2559472.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/orson-scott-card-134_colonization_as-history-shows-us-when-colonization-is_2559472.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/orson-scott-card-134_colonization_as-history-shows-us-when-colonization-is_2559472.png)

> “As history shows us, when colonization is voluntary, people will self-select better than any testing system. It’s like those foolish attempts to control immigration to American based on the traits that were deemed desirable, when in fact the only trait that defines Americans historically is “descended from somebody willing to give up everything to live there.” Willingness is the single most important test.”

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Voluntary colonization selects the most willing, a better indicator than imposed criteria; willingness defines a nation's character.

**In simple terms:** Willingness matters more than imposed traits.

Key Takeaway

Value willingness over arbitrary selection.

Themes

migration volition identity selection

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- immigration policy
- national identity formation
- voluntary community building

Key Concepts

social contract human nature political philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies assess willingness fairly?
- What risks arise from valuing willingness above all?

A Different Perspective

Willingness may be hard to measure objectively.

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[Colonization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonization/) [Colonization Voluntary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonization-voluntary-1591934/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Foolish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration To America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-to-america-221145/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Select](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/select/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Shows Colonization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows-colonization-1591935/) [Testing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testing/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Traits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traits/) [Voluntary People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voluntary-people-1591936/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/)

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