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

Transcendentalism 32 Cold War 31 Independence 29 Courage 25 Character 20 Learning 19 Accountability 18 Freedom 15 Deterrence 12 Peace 9 Cuban Missile Crisis 7 Civil rights 7 Moral responsibility 7 Virtue 6 Belonging 4 Balance 4 Individual rights 3 Racial equality 3 Means and ends 2 Non-aggression 2 Moral consequence 2 Jewish tradition 1 Moral limits 1 Pardon 1 Clemency 1 Public protection 1 Moral purpose 1 Right action 1 International order 1 International responsibility 1 Constitutional rights 1 Melian Dialogue 1 Power politics 1 Coercion 1 Athenian Empire 1