The Quotation IndexThe trusted reference for quotations and the sources behind them
Tag Tag Justice
The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.
Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War · 431 BC

Quotes

“The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, an almost fanatical love of justice and the desire for personal independence—these are the features of the Jewish tradition which make me thank my stars that I belong to it.”

Albert Einstein · Ideas and Opinions , 1954 · Primary source

“The end does not justify the means. No one’s rights can be secured by the violation of the rights of others.”

Ayn Rand · The Ayn Rand Lexicon: Objectivism from A to Z, 1986 · Primary source

“Pardoning the bad, is injuring the good.”

Benjamin Franklin · Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1732-1758 · Primary source

“Without justice courage is weak.”

Benjamin Franklin · Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1732-1758 · Primary source

“Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right—not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved.”

John F. Kennedy · Address During The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 · Primary source

“The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war. We do not want a war. We do not now expect a war. This generation of Americans has already had enough—more than enough—of war and hate and oppression. We shall be prepared if others wish it. We shall be alert to try to stop it. But we shall also do our part to build a world of peace where the weak are safe and the strong are just. We are not helpless before that task or hopeless of its success.”

John F. Kennedy · Commencement address at American University, 1963 · Primary source

“We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution.”

John F. Kennedy · Civil Rights Address, 1963 · Primary source

Works

Ralph Waldo Emerson · 1841
Compensation

An exploration of moral balance and consequence, arguing that actions, gains and losses are answered by corresponding effects in life.

Read summary·Explore 14 quotes

Related Tags

Jewish tradition 1 Learning 18 Independence 29 Belonging 4 Individual rights 3 Means and ends 1 Moral limits 1 Non-aggression 2 Pardon 1 Accountability 15 Clemency 1 Public protection 1 Courage 23 Virtue 6 Moral purpose 1 Right action 1 Peace 8 Freedom 15 Cuban Missile Crisis 7 International order 1 Deterrence 12 Cold War 30 International responsibility 1 Civil rights 6 Racial equality 3 Moral responsibility 7 Constitutional rights 1 Melian Dialogue 1 Power politics 1 Coercion 1 Athenian Empire 1 Moral consequence 2 Balance 4 Character 20 Transcendentalism 32