Quotes · Skopia

35 quotes

The Times They Are a-Changin' (song) · 1964

★ 9.2

Philosophical dialogue · Dialogue · Philosophical literature

What I say is that "just" or "right" means nothing but what is to the interest of the stronger party.

Thrasymachus

Plato, Republic · 375 BC

★ 8.1

Political charter · Political literature

To no man will we sell, or deny, or delay, right or justice.

Magna Carta

1215

★ 7.3

Sermon

We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

1968

★ 7.1

Essay · Political literature

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

Federalist 51 · 1788

★ 7.0

Speech · Political speech

Justice is truth in action.

Benjamin Disraeli

1851

★ 7.0

Historical literature

You know as well as we do that right, as the word goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

Thucydides

History of the Peloponnesian War · 404 BC

★ 7.0

Film · Western (film) · Western

Deserve's got nothin' to do with it.

Bill Munny

Unforgiven · 1992

★ 6.4

Scripture · Religious literature

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

Isaiah 40:4-5

681 BC

★ 6.2

Speech · Political speech

Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.

Abraham Lincoln

1860

★ 5.5

Speech

Justice is not to be taken by storm. She is to be wooed by slow advances.

Benjamin Cardozo

1923

★ 5.3

Interview

There is no such thing as justice-in or out of court.

Clarence Darrow

1936

★ 5.3

Philosophical dialogue · Philosophical literature

It is never right to do wrong or to requite wrong with wrong, or when we suffer evil to defend ourselves by doing evil in return.

Socrates

Plato, Crito · 399 BC

★ 4.9

Political literature · Feminist literature

It is justice, not charity, that is wanting in the world.

Mary Wollstonecraft

A Vindiction of the Rights of Woman · 1792

★ 4.7

Interview

Justice is love on legs, spilling over into the public sphere.

Cornel West

2009

★ 4.6

Political literature · Philosophical literature

Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought. A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revised if it is untrue; likewise laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust.

John Rawls

A Theory of Justice · 1971

★ 4.4

Poem · Epic poem · Religious literature

Yet I shall temper so Justice with mercy.

John Milton

Paradise Lost · 1667

★ 4.0

Open letter · Letter · Political literature

There are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Letter from Birmingham Jail · 1963

★ 3.9

Legal writing

Justice is the constant and perpetual wish to render to every one his due.

Justinian I

533

★ 3.8

Speech · Political speech

Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man's nature—opposition to it, is [in?] his love of justice.

Abraham Lincoln

1854

★ 3.8

Play · Tragic play · Greek theater

Neither anarchy nor tyranny—this I counsel my citizens to support and respect, and not to drive fear wholly out of the city. For who among mortals, if he fears nothing, is righteous?

Aeschylus

The Eumenides · 458 BC

★ 3.7

Poem

For Justice, though she's painted blind, Is to the weaker Side inclin'd.

Samuel Butler (poet)

1678

★ 3.6

Poem

A God all mercy, is a God unjust.

Edward Young

Night Thoughts · 1743

★ 3.6

Scripture · Religious literature

But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

Amos 5:24

750 BC

★ 3.5

Play

God is on everyone's side…and, in the last analysis, he is on the side of those with plenty of money and large armies.

Jean Anouilh

1952

★ 3.5

Speech · Political speech

I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!

Barry Goldwater

1964 Republican convention speech · 1964

★ 3.5

Play · Comedy (play)

Truth will come to light.

William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice · 1598

★ 2.1

Play · Comedy (play)

We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape till custom make it Their perch and not their terror.

William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure · 1616

★ 2.1

Scripture · Religious literature

Thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

God

Exodus 21:23-24 · 1405 BC

★ 2.0

Novel · Fantasy

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.

J.R.R. Tolkien

1954

★ 2.0

Film · Drama (film) · Drama

It's that every now and again, not often, but occasionally, you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens.

Andrew Beckett

Philadelphia · 1993

★ 2.0

Speech · Political speech

Every segment of our population and every individual has a right to expect from our Government a fair deal.

Harry Truman

1949 State of the Union · 1949

★ 1.9

Film · Political (film) · Thriller (film) · Political · Thriller

Going back to when we were children, I think most of us in this courtroom thought justice came into being automatically. That virtue was its own reward. That good would triumph over evil. But as we get older, we know this just isn't true. Individual human beings have to create justice, and this is not easy because the truth often poses a threat to power and one often has to fight power at great risk to themselves.

Jim Garrison

JFK · 1991

★ 1.9

Legal opinion · Legal writing

A long line of cases shows that it is not merely of some importance, but is of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.

Gordon Hewart

Rex v. Sussex Justices · 1924

★ 1.7

Nobel Prize Lecture · Speech

Our original guiding stars are struggle and hope.

Pablo Neruda

1971

★ 1.3

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