--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The right to have a slave implies the…" description: "\"The right to have a slave implies the right in some one to make the slave; that right must be equal and mutual, and this would resolve society into a s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/william-h-seward-17225_equal_the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-ri_2207229.jpg" --- # The right to have a slave implies the right in some one to… ![“The right to have a slave implies the right in some one to make the slave; that right must be equal and mutual, and this would resolve society into a state of perpetual war.” quote by William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/william-h-seward-17225_equal_the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-ri_2207229.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/william-h-seward-17225_equal_the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-ri_2207229.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/william-h-seward-17225_equal_the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-ri_2207229.jpg) > “The right to have a slave implies the right in some one to make the slave; that right must be equal and mutual, and this would resolve society into a state of perpetual war.” [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. If one can own another, that power must be mutual, leading to endless conflict; true equality prevents perpetual war. **In simple terms:** Mutual equality avoids endless conflict. Key Takeaway Promote equal rights for all. Themes equality conflict politics Mood thoughtful urgent Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - education - community building - legal reform Key Concepts social contract human rights Questions to Reflect On - What steps can societies take toward mutual equality? - How does power imbalance fuel conflict? A Different Perspective Achieving true equality is complex and contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Make Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-slave-3125111/) [Mutual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual/) [Perpetual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetual/) [Resolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolve/) [Right Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-slave-3551516/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slave Implies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-implies-4873764/) [Slave Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-right-4873765/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [In part because they had no choice, right? If you were a slave, you did what the master said. And they said to worship:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/in-part-because-they-had-no-choice-right-if-you-were-a-slave-you-did/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [“Once people said: Give me liberty or give me death. Now they say: Make me a slave, just pay me enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-garlington/once-people-said-give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death-now-they-say-make/) [Todd Garlington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-garlington/) > [I defied the machinery to make me its slave. Its incessant discords could not drown the music of my thoughts if I would let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-larcom/i-defied-the-machinery-to-make-me-its-slave-its-incessant-discords/) [Lucy Larcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-larcom/) > [Life is not a finished product, it is only what we make of it, and if we make nothing of it, someone else will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehudi-menuhin/life-is-not-a-finished-product-it-is-only-what-we-make-of-it-and-if/) [Yehudi Menuhin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehudi-menuhin/) > [Fashion condemns us to many follies; the greatest is to make ourselves its slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/fashion-condemns-us-to-many-follies-the-greatest-is-to-make-ourselves/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The very instant I saw you, did My heart fly to your service; there resides To make me slave to it. ...mine unworthiness, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-very-instant-i-saw-you-did-my-heart-fly-to-your-service-there/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Make yourself a slave to good habits”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-john/make-yourself-a-slave-to-good-habits/) [Dan John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-john/) > [“The mind is your servant or can make you a slave to its control.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-mind-is-your-servant-or-can-make-you-a-slave-to-its-control/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Evil is so seductive. It needs to grind you up and make you its slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/evil-is-so-seductive-it-needs-to-grind-you-up-and-make-you-its-slave/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“This man, he could make her his slave, her body his command. -Sahara”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/this-man-he-could-make-her-his-slave-her-body-his-command-sahara/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“How can they look in the eyes of a man and make a slave of him and then quote the Bible?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shaara/how-can-they-look-in-the-eyes-of-a-man-and-make-a-slave-of-him-and/) [Michael Shaara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shaara/) > [Now what is Judge Douglas Popular Sovereignty? It is, as a principle, no other than that, if one man chooses to make a slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/now-what-is-judge-douglas-popular-sovereignty-it-is-as-a-principle-no/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [One of the reasons that make many to be a slave, is the fear of death and grave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olalekan-ayo-omojayogbe/one-of-the-reasons-that-make-many-to-be-a-slave-is-the-fear-of-death/) [Olalekan Ayo Omojayogbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olalekan-ayo-omojayogbe/) > [“In trying to make the slave experience intimate, I hoped the sense of things being both under control and out of control would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-trying-to-make-the-slave-experience-intimate-i-hoped-the-sense-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [We have a society that wants somebody to come out of college with a degree that will make them a slave for whatever discipline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/we-have-a-society-that-wants-somebody-to-come-out-of-college-with-a/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) ## More by William H. Seward > [The whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever-growing influence of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-whole-hope-of-human-progress-is-suspended-on-the-ever-growing/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [To reduce this claim of slavery to an absurdity, it is only necessary to add that there are only two states in which slaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/to-reduce-this-claim-of-slavery-to-an-absurdity-it-is-only-necessary/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [The proposition of an established classification of states as slave states and free states, as insisted on by some, and into northern and southern,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-proposition-of-an-established-classification-of-states-as-slave/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [But there is a higher law than the Constitution, which regulates our authority over the domain, and devotes it to the same noble purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/but-there-is-a-higher-law-than-the-constitution-which-regulates-our/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [I speak on due consideration because Britain, France, and Mexico, have abolished slavery, and all other European states are preparing to abolish it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/i-speak-on-due-consideration-because-britain-france-and-mexico-have/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [The United States are a political state, or organized society, whose end is government, for the security, welfare, and happiness of all who live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-united-states-are-a-political-state-or-organized-society-whose/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [But the Constitution was made not only for southern and northern states, but for states neither northern nor southern, namely, the western states, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/but-the-constitution-was-made-not-only-for-southern-and-northern/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [No man will ever be President of the United States who spells 'negro' with two gs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/no-man-will-ever-be-president-of-the-united-states-who-spells-negro/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [The color of the prisoner's skin, and the form of his features, are not impressed upon the spiritual immortal mind which works beneath. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-color-of-the-prisoner-s-skin-and-the-form-of-his-features-are-not/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [Revolutions never go backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/revolutions-never-go-backward/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [The constitution regulates our stewardship; the constitution devotes the domain to union, to justice, to defense, to welfare, and to liberty. But there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-constitution-regulates-our-stewardship-the-constitution-devotes/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [The two systems slave and free-labor are incompatible. They have never permanently existed together in one country, and they never can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-two-systems-slave-and-free-labor-are-incompatible-they-have-never/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [It is an irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/it-is-an-irrepressible-conflict-between-opposing-and-enduring-forces/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [But I deny that the Constitution recognizes property in man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/but-i-deny-that-the-constitution-recognizes-property-in-man/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [A party with one idea; but that is a noble idea ... the idea of equality - the equality of all men before human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/a-party-with-one-idea-but-that-is-a-noble-idea-the-idea-of-equality/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) [Explore all 37 William H. Seward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) ## More Equal quotes > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [Only to have a grief equal to all these tears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/only-to-have-a-grief-equal-to-all-these-tears/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers; Unfaith is aught is want of faith in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-and-unfaith-can-ne-er-be-equal-powers-unfaith-is-aught-is-want/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [If it is true that there is always more than one way of construing a text, it is not true that all interpretations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/if-it-is-true-that-there-is-always-more-than-one-way-of-construing-a/) [Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/) > [There is usually no dreamer so unworldly as the anthologist. He wanders in a vast garden, lost in wonder, unable to decide often between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-webb/there-is-usually-no-dreamer-so-unworldly-as-the-anthologist-he/) [Mary Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-webb/) > [I can tell you this. It is not going to be evenly constituted and when she was Speaker Pelosi, she certainly showed no interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-can-tell-you-this-it-is-not-going-to-be-evenly-constituted-and-when/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) [Browse all 4,126 Equal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The right to have a slave implies the right in some one to make the slave; that right must be equal and mutual, and this would resolve society into a state of perpetual war.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William H. Seward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-right-in-some-one-to-make-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Equal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-right-in-some-one-to-make-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/william-h-seward-17225_equal_the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-ri_2207229.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/william-h-seward-17225_equal_the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-ri_2207229.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/william-h-seward-17225_equal_the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-ri_2207229.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The right to have a slave implies the right in some one to make the slave; that right must be equal and…” — William H. Seward", "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": "William H. Seward", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The right to have a slave...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-right-in-some-one-to-make-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-right-to-have-a-slave-implies-the-right-in-some-one-to-make-the/#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 } } ] } ```