--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the States do not have the right to…" description: "\"If the States do not have the right to secede, then they have no rights at all.\" — Walter E. Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/walter-e-williams-2709_ifs_if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-s_1377719.png" --- # If the States do not have the right to secede, then they… ![“If the States do not have the right to secede, then they have no rights at all.” quote by Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/walter-e-williams-2709_ifs_if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-s_1377719.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/walter-e-williams-2709_ifs_if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-s_1377719.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/walter-e-williams-2709_ifs_if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-s_1377719.png) > “If the States do not have the right to secede, then they have no rights at all.” [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If a state cannot secede, it lacks any legitimate authority, implying that secession is a test of freedom. **In simple terms:** No secession right means no rights. Key Takeaway Recognize the link between autonomy and rights. Themes politics rights secession sovereignty Mood analytical provocative Type philosophical political When to use this quote - regional movements - constitutional debates - civil rights activism Key Concepts social contract political legitimacy individual liberty Questions to Reflect On - What justifies a right to secede? - How do rights persist without secession? A Different Perspective Separation may cause instability and conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Right Secede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-secede-1138572/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Secede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secede-685558/) [Secede Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secede-rights-4762588/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-right-1589201/) ## Related quotes > [If the Constitution is a compact, then the States have a right to secede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-story/if-the-constitution-is-a-compact-then-the-states-have-a-right-to/) [Joseph Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-story/) > [California, like anywhere else on Earth, should have the right to secede whether the United States likes it or not. The preferences of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/california-like-anywhere-else-on-earth-should-have-the-right-to/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [A team of British lawyers has now concluded that the Declaration of Independence was illegal, and the American colonies had no right to secede…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/a-team-of-british-lawyers-has-now-concluded-that-the-declaration-of/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Today neither of our two parties maintains a meaningful commitment to the principle of States' Rights. The 10th Amendment is not a 'general assumption'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/today-neither-of-our-two-parties-maintains-a-meaningful-commitment-to/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Abortion is a states' rights issue. Education is a states' right issue. Medicinal marijuana is a states' rights issue. Gay marraige is a states'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-allyn-root/abortion-is-a-states-rights-issue-education-is-a-states-right-issue/) [Wayne Allyn Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-allyn-root/) > [States should have the right to enact laws... particularly to end the inhumane practice of ending a life that otherwise could live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/states-should-have-the-right-to-enact-laws-particularly-to-end-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that's the right direction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/every-time-you-have-an-occasion-to-take-something-from-the-federal/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The Constitution of the United States was created by the people of the United States composing the respective states, who alone had the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-was-created-by-the-people-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“The Tenth Amendment recognizes the States' jurisdiction in certain areas. States' Rights means that the States have a right to act or not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-m-goldwater/the-tenth-amendment-recognizes-the-states-jurisdiction-in-certain/) [Barry M. Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-m-goldwater/) > [The Supreme Court has been clear that states have the right to protect their citizens against out-of-state regulations that would burden those citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/the-supreme-court-has-been-clear-that-states-have-the-right-to/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [John Calhoun, if you secede from my nation I will secede your head from the rest of your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/john-calhoun-if-you-secede-from-my-nation-i-will-secede-your-head/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [If Lincoln's primary goal in the War was not the abolition of slavery but simply to preserve the Union, the question arises: Why did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/if-lincoln-s-primary-goal-in-the-war-was-not-the-abolition-of-slavery/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [And we love to dance, especially that new one called the Civil War Twist. The Northern part of you stands still while the Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/and-we-love-to-dance-especially-that-new-one-called-the-civil-war/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [I think it's more likely that we can make positive changes happen on environment and military issues if states begin to secede. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/i-think-it-s-more-likely-that-we-can-make-positive-changes-happen-on/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [You can’t convince me that the Founding Fathers wouldn’t allow you to secede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/you-can-t-convince-me-that-the-founding-fathers-wouldn-t-allow-you-to/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) ## More by Walter E. Williams > [Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/vote-for-me-i-ll-use-my-office-to-take-another-american-s-money-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [More important than anything else is for Americans to wise up to class warfare demagoguery and reject the politics of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/more-important-than-anything-else-is-for-americans-to-wise-up-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Wal-Mart has become the whipping boy for political demagogues, unions and anti-traders. I suggest that they have the wrong target… Wal-Mart exists and prospers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/wal-mart-has-become-the-whipping-boy-for-political-demagogues-unions/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [When the Founders thought of democracy, they saw democracy in the political sphere - a sphere strictly limited by the Constitution's well-defined and enumerated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/when-the-founders-thought-of-democracy-they-saw-democracy-in-the/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Reaching into one's own pocket to assist his fellow man is noble and worthy of praise. Reaching into another person's pocket to assist one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/reaching-into-one-s-own-pocket-to-assist-his-fellow-man-is-noble-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [If there's a distinct group of Americans who harbor open contempt for constitutional principles and rule of law, it's lawyers, judges and members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-there-s-a-distinct-group-of-americans-who-harbor-open-contempt-for/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Conservatives and liberals are kindred spirits as far as government spending is concerned. First, let's make sure we understand what government spending is. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/conservatives-and-liberals-are-kindred-spirits-as-far-as-government/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Students who are alien and hostile to the education process ought to be removed. You say, "What will we do with them?" I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/students-who-are-alien-and-hostile-to-the-education-process-ought-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Minimum-wage laws are one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of racists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/minimum-wage-laws-are-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-in-the-arsenal/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [What we call the market is really a democratic process involving millions, and in some markets billions, of people making personal decisions that express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/what-we-call-the-market-is-really-a-democratic-process-involving/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The bottom line is that the true test of one's commitment to freedom of association doesn't come when he allows people to associate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-bottom-line-is-that-the-true-test-of-one-s-commitment-to-freedom/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The difference between a thief and a congressman: When a thief steals your money, he doesn't expect you to thank him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-difference-between-a-thief-and-a-congressman-when-a-thief-steals/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The global warming scare has provided a field day for politicians and others who wish to control our lives. After all, only the imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-global-warming-scare-has-provided-a-field-day-for-politicians-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Legislators aren't known for being rocket scientists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/legislators-aren-t-known-for-being-rocket-scientists/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) [Explore all 153 Walter E. Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## More Ifs quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [If I don't have pressure, I don't function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/if-i-don-t-have-pressure-i-don-t-function/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) [Browse all 94,303 Ifs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the States do not have the right to secede, then they have no rights at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter E. Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-secede-then-they-have-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ifs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-secede-then-they-have-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/walter-e-williams-2709_ifs_if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-s_1377719.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/walter-e-williams-2709_ifs_if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-s_1377719.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/walter-e-williams-2709_ifs_if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-s_1377719.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the States do not have the right to secede, then they have no rights at all.” — Walter E. Williams", "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": "Walter E. Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the States do not have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-secede-then-they-have-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-the-states-do-not-have-the-right-to-secede-then-they-have-no/#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 } } ] } ```