--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It depends on the state itself to retain…" description: "\"It depends on the state itself to retain or abolish the principle of representation, because it depends on itself whether it will continue a member of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/william-rawle-63652_abolish_it-depends-on-the-state-itself-to-retain_2941605.png" --- # It depends on the state itself to retain or abolish the… ![“It depends on the state itself to retain or abolish the principle of representation, because it depends on itself whether it will continue a member of the Union. To deny this right would be inconsistent with the principle on which all our political systems are founded, which is, that the people…” quote by William Rawle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/william-rawle-63652_abolish_it-depends-on-the-state-itself-to-retain_2941605.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/william-rawle-63652_abolish_it-depends-on-the-state-itself-to-retain_2941605.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/william-rawle-63652_abolish_it-depends-on-the-state-itself-to-retain_2941605.png) > “It depends on the state itself to retain or abolish the principle of representation, because it depends on itself whether it will continue a member of the Union. To deny this right would be inconsistent with the principle on which all our political systems are founded, which is, that the people have in all cases, a right to determine how they will be governed. This right must be considered as an ingredient in the original composition of the general government, which, though not expressed, was mutually understood. . .” [William Rawle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rawle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that a state's right to representation is fundamental; denying it contradicts the principle that people must decide their governance. **In simple terms:** Representation is a core right for states to choose their government. Key Takeaway Protect representation rights for all states. Themes politics representation sovereignty selfdetermination Mood thoughtful serious Type political historical When to use this quote - statehood debates - constitutional conventions - legislative reforms - citizen advocacy Key Concepts social contract democratic legitimacy federalism Questions to Reflect On - How does representation affect state identity? - What limits should exist on state self‑determination? A Different Perspective Balancing state autonomy with national unity can be contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-systems/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [If you take Darwinian theory, make a 'scientific' principle out of it, put it into political action, then you have something like Nazi Germany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lipton/if-you-take-darwinian-theory-make-a-scientific-principle-out-of-it/) [Bruce Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lipton/) > [Liberalism is that principle of political rights, according to which the public authority, in spite of being all-powerful, limits itself and attempts, even at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/liberalism-is-that-principle-of-political-rights-according-to-which/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [“Interest yourself in public affairs as a duty of citizenship, but do not surrender your faith to those who discredit and debase politics by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/interest-yourself-in-public-affairs-as-a-duty-of-citizenship-but-do/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [The principle of my political life ... is that all amelioration and improvements in political institutions can be obtained by persevering in a perfectly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/the-principle-of-my-political-life-is-that-all-amelioration-and/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) > [He who attempts to draw any conclusion whatever as to the nation's wealth or poverty from the mere fact of a favorable or unfavorable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-engel/he-who-attempts-to-draw-any-conclusion-whatever-as-to-the-nation-s/) Ernst Engel > [The man who prefers his country before any other duty shows the same spirit as the man who surrenders every right to the state.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-man-who-prefers-his-country-before-any-other-duty-shows-the-same/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [The inherent right in the people to reform their government, I do not deny; and they have another right, and that is to resist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/the-inherent-right-in-the-people-to-reform-their-government-i-do-not/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [I look upon those who would deny others the right to urge and argue their position, however irksome and pernicious they may seem, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-borah/i-look-upon-those-who-would-deny-others-the-right-to-urge-and-argue/) [William Borah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-borah/) > [“Some folks require the park’s wildness and yet deny its right to exercise its wildness upon them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-whittlesey/some-folks-require-the-park-s-wildness-and-yet-deny-its-right-to/) [Lee H. 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