John Rawls
Political philosopher (1921 to 2002) whose A Theory of Justice (1971) argued for justice as fairness: principles chosen behind a veil of ignorance, with inequalities allowed only where they benefit the least advantaged.
John Rawls did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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Their wordsA 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.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book
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Their wordsEach person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book
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Their wordsTherefore in a just society the liberties of equal citizenship are taken as settled; the rights secured by justice are not subject to political bargaining or to the calculus of social interests.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book
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Their wordsThe principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book
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Their wordsThe natural distribution is neither just nor unjust; nor is it unjust that persons are born into society at some particular position.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book
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Their wordsWhat is just and unjust is the way that institutions deal with these facts.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book
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Their wordsFirst: each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book
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Their wordsBeing first virtues of human activities, truth and justice are uncompromising.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book
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Their wordsPurity of heart, if one could attain it, would be to see clearly and to act with grace and self-command from this point of view.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book
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Their wordsNo one deserves his greater natural capacity nor merits a more favorable starting place in society.
↗A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971)archive.org All 10 from this book