--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is true, indeed, that the national…" description: "\"It is true, indeed, that the national domain is ours. It is true it was acquired by the valor and with the wealth of the whole nation. But we hold, nev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/william-h-seward-17225_acquired_it-is-true-indeed-that-the-national-doma_2263395.jpg" --- # It is true, indeed, that the national domain is ours. It… ![“It is true, indeed, that the national domain is ours. It is true it was acquired by the valor and with the wealth of the whole nation. But we hold, nevertheless, no arbitrary power over it.” quote by William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/william-h-seward-17225_acquired_it-is-true-indeed-that-the-national-doma_2263395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/william-h-seward-17225_acquired_it-is-true-indeed-that-the-national-doma_2263395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/william-h-seward-17225_acquired_it-is-true-indeed-that-the-national-doma_2263395.jpg) > “It is true, indeed, that the national domain is ours. It is true it was acquired by the valor and with the wealth of the whole nation. But we hold, nevertheless, no arbitrary power over it.” [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The nation collectively owns the domain, but no single entity can claim unchecked authority over it. **In simple terms:** Nation owns resources, but no one controls all. Key Takeaway Respect shared ownership. Themes sovereignty collective rights responsibility Mood reflective cautious Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy making - resource management - international treaties - public discourse Key Concepts political theory law nationalism Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure equitable use of shared resources? - What safeguards prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Power dynamics can still be uneven despite collective ownership. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arbitrary power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary-power/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Domain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domain/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Valor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valor/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [“The Northwest is essentially a national domain; it is fitting that it should be, as it is, not only by position but by feeling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-northwest-is-essentially-a-national-domain-it-is-fitting-that-it/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It may be that at some time in the dim future of the race the need for war will vanish: but that time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-may-be-that-at-some-time-in-the-dim-future-of-the-race-the-need/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“As yet no nation can hold its place in the world, or can do any work really worth doing, unless it stands ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beth-smith/as-yet-no-nation-can-hold-its-place-in-the-world-or-can-do-any-work/) [Mary Beth Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beth-smith/) > [Arbitrary power is the natural object of temptation to a prince, as wine and women to a young fellow, or a bribe to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/arbitrary-power-is-the-natural-object-of-temptation-to-a-prince-as/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/nip-the-shoots-of-arbitrary-power-in-the-bud-is-the-only-maxim-which-2/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“There can be no greater stretch of arbitrary power than to seize children from their parents, teach them whatever the authorities decree they shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-paterson/there-can-be-no-greater-stretch-of-arbitrary-power-than-to-seize/) [Isabel Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-paterson/) > [Law and arbitrary power are at eternal enmity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/law-and-arbitrary-power-are-at-eternal-enmity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [ \[I\]f vice and corruption prevail, liberty cannot subsist; but if virtue have the advantage, arbitrary power cannot be established. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-sidney/i-f-vice-and-corruption-prevail-liberty-cannot-subsist-but-if-virtue/) [Algernon Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-sidney/) > [“...The arbitrary power of the Government is unlimited, and unexampled in history; freedom of the Press, of opinion and of movement are as thoroughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-arbitrary-power-of-the-government-is-unlimited-and-unexampled-in/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/arbitrary-power-is-like-most-other-things-which-are-very-hard-very/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [If vice and corruption prevail, liberty cannot subsist; but if virtue have the advantage, arbitrary power cannot be established.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-sidney/if-vice-and-corruption-prevail-liberty-cannot-subsist-but-if-virtue/) [Algernon Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-sidney/) > [Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/arbitrary-power-is-most-easily-established-on-the-ruins-of-liberty/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [There can be no greater stretch of arbitrary power than is required to seize children from their parents, teach them whatever the authorities decree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-paterson/there-can-be-no-greater-stretch-of-arbitrary-power-than-is-required/) [Isabel Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-paterson/) > [Arbitrary power has seldom... been introduced in any country at once. 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