Ah, “Possession is nine-tenths of the law” — an expression that dates back to the 16th century and still holds people in its grasp today. According to the phrase, the mere act of possessing something gives you a significant legal advantage over anyone claiming it. It initially appeared in T. Draxe’s Bibliotheca Scholastica (1616): “Possession is nine points in the Law.” Over the years, the number has fluctuated, but nine has held steady. While formal legal codes don’t back this, practicality lends it authority, illustrating the power of possession over pure ownership claims.
Related Terms & Expressions
- Finders keepers, losers weepers: Another way to emphasize the importance of possessing something.
- Holding all the cards: Being in control of a situation.
- In the driver’s seat: Having control or advantage.
Synonyms
- Legal advantage
- Hold of the law
- Squatter’s rights
- Custody leverage
Antonyms
- Dispossession
- Deprivation
- Lack of control
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “Possession is nine-tenths of the law. The other tenth? Probably taxes.” — Anonymous
- “Possession is nine-tenths of the law. The other one-tenth? Parking tickets.” — Fictional Judge
Proverbs
- “He who holds the gold makes the rules.”
- “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”
Suggested Media
- Literature: Bleak House by Charles Dickens for a tale full of legal wrangling
- Books: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee for its courtroom drama
- Songs: “I Fought the Law” by The Clash, a song about living outside legal boundaries
- Movies: A Civil Action, highlighting the complexity of legal battles
- Poetry: The Law of the Jungle by Rudyard Kipling
And with that, remember: sometimes it’s not the ownership papers but the simple act of holding on tightly that matters most. As the modern squatter’s mantra might say, “I’ve got it—just try and take it.”
Until next time, hold on tightly to what’s yours—or someone might just exercise the adage on you! Keep learning, keep laughing, and always be ahead in the game of life.
Yours truly, I. M. Lawwise
