Law never made men a whit more just.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Justice is truth in action.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
Undeservedly you will atone for the sins of your fathers.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Only a kind person is able to judge another justly and to make allowances for his weaknesses. A kind eye, while recognizing defects, sees beyond them.
—Lawrence G. Lovasik
The jury, passing on the prisoner’s life, may have in the sworn twelve a thief or two guiltier than him they try.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
People are getting smarter nowadays; they are letting lawyers, instead of their conscience, be their guide.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
The more laws, the less justice.
—German Proverb
The place of justice is a hallowed place.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
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 the means by which established injustices are sanctioned.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Come, agree, the law’s costly.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Wrong neither thy brother in faith nor him who differs from thee in faith.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
All are presumed good till they are found at fault.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty.
—Peter Marshall
The greatest crimes are caused by surfeit, not by want.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Justice is having and doing what is one’s own.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
The most absurd apology for authority and law is that they serve to diminish crime. Aside from the fact that the State is itself the greatest criminal, breaking every written and natural law, stealing in the form of taxes, killing in the form of war and capital punishment, it has come to an absolute standstill in coping with crime. It has failed utterly to destroy or even minimize the horrible scourge of its own creation.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
All trials are trials for one’s life, just as all sentences are sentences of death.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
I’ve never had a problem with drugs. I’ve had problems with the police.
—Keith Richards (b.1943) English Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Actor
I am further of opinion that it would be better for us to have (no laws) at all than to have them in so prodigious numbers as we have.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure life and prosperity and you need not give alms.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
It is well-nigh obvious that those who are in favor of the death penalty have more affinities with murderers than those who oppose it.
—Remy de Gourmont (1858–1915) French Critic, Novelist
Justice consists in doing no injury to men; decency in giving them no offense.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
To say that a thing has never yet been done among men is to erect a barrier stronger than reason, stronger than discussion.
—Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902) American Politician, Lawyer
Hot water is my native element. I was in it as a baby, and I have never seemed to get out of it ever since.
—Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) British Poet, Literary Critic
Obscenity is whatever happens to shock some elderly and ignorant magistrate.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
I always rejoice when I see a tribunal filled with a man of an upright and inflexible temper, who in the execution of his country
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator