Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been, and ever will be pursued, until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.
—James Madison (1751–1836) American Founding Father, Statesman, President
The essence of justice is mercy.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
Justice is better than chivalry if we cannot have both.
—Alice Stone Blackwell (1857–1950) American Suffragist Leader, Journalist
The glory of each generation is to make its own precedents.
—Belva Ann Lockwood (1830–1917) American Lawyer, Politician
It is one thing to say with the prophet Amos, “Let justice roll down like mighty waters,” and quite another to work out the irrigation system. Clearly there is more certainty in the recognition of wrongs than there is in the prescription for their cure.
—William Sloane Coffin (1924–2006) American Clergyman, Activist
Do not judge, and you will never be mistaken.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
I have always believed that God never gives a cross to bear larger than we can carry. No matter what, he wants us to be happy, not sad. Birds sing after a storm. Why shouldn’t we?
—Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (1890–1995) American Socialite, Philanthropist
Why keep on enacting laws when we already have more than we can reak
—Anonymous
Those are ever the most ready to do justice to others, who feel that the world has done them justice.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Men fight for freedom, then they begin to accumulate laws to take it away from themselves.
—Unknown
The whole history of the world is summed up in the fact that, when nations are strong, they are not always just, and when they wish to be just, they are no longer strong.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The trouble with the laws these days is that criminals know their rights better than their wrongs.
—Unknown
Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Living well and beautifully and justly are all one thing.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The challenge of social justice is to evoke a sense of community that we need to make our nation a better place, just as we make it a safer place.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Activist, Advocate
Justice should remove the bandage from her eyes long enough to distinguish between the vicious and the unfortunate.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see, but only a few can test by feeling. Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are, and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
A fox should not be of the jury at a goose’s trial.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
One of irony’s greatest accomplishments is that one cannot punish the wrongdoing of another without committing a wrongdoing himself.
—Anonymous
Thy neighbor’s property must be as sacred to thee as thine own.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The sentiment of justice is so natural, and so universally acquired by all mankind, that it seems to be independent of all law, all party, all religion.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been done before, may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice and the general reason of mankind.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
The voice of the majority is no proof of justice.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you and you have to battle with only one of them.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s rain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and ied in cotton fields and sweatshops.
—Stephen Jay Gould (1941–2002) American Paleontologist, Science Writer
Our judgments judge us, and nothing reveals us, exposes our weaknesses, more ingeniously than the attitude of pronouncing upon our fellows.
—Paul Valery (1871–1945) French Critic, Poet
You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man’s freedom. You can only be free if I am free.
—Clarence Darrow (1857–1938) American Civil Liberties Lawyer
May be is very well, but Must is the master. It is my duty to show justice without recompense.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Next to religion, let your care be to promote justice.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
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