List of Famous Justice Quotes in English with Images

Here’s a collection of famous quotes about justice, along with their meanings and examples that illustrate how each quote reflects the principles and significance of justice in society.


1. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." – Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Meaning: King emphasizes that injustice in one place can affect the overall fabric of justice in society, urging vigilance against any form of injustice.

  • Example: If a community tolerates discrimination against one group, it sets a precedent that can lead to widespread injustice affecting everyone.


2. "Justice delayed is justice denied." – William E. Gladstone

  • Meaning: Gladstone argues that when justice is postponed or not delivered in a timely manner, it effectively denies individuals their rights.

  • Example: A victim of crime waiting years for their case to be resolved may feel that true justice has not been served, highlighting the importance of timely legal processes.


3. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." – Theodore Parker

  • Meaning: Parker suggests that while the path to justice may be slow and challenging, it ultimately progresses toward fairness and righteousness.

  • Example: Social movements that take years to achieve change, like civil rights, exemplify this notion that persistence can lead to eventual justice.


4. "Justice is the constant and perpetual will to render to everyone his due." – Justinian I

  • Meaning: Justinian defines justice as a commitment to fairness and ensuring that everyone receives what they rightfully deserve.

  • Example: A fair legal system that ensures every individual is treated equitably, regardless of their background, embodies this principle of justice.


5. "The first duty of society is justice." – Alexander Hamilton

  • Meaning: Hamilton asserts that maintaining justice is the foundational responsibility of any society, as it ensures order and fairness.

  • Example: Governments that prioritize law enforcement and legal systems demonstrate a commitment to upholding justice as a societal duty.


6. "Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both." – Eleanor Roosevelt

  • Meaning: Roosevelt highlights that true justice requires impartiality and fairness for all parties involved, not just for one side of a dispute.

  • Example: In a courtroom, a fair trial ensures that both the prosecution and defense have equal opportunities to present their cases.


7. "Justice is the foundation of peace." – Unknown

  • Meaning: This quote emphasizes that without justice, societies cannot achieve true peace, as unresolved grievances lead to conflict.

  • Example: Countries that address injustices and strive for equality are more likely to maintain social harmony and stability.


8. "The law is not a law without justice." – Unknown

  • Meaning: This quote suggests that laws must be rooted in justice to be valid and meaningful; otherwise, they can become instruments of oppression.

  • Example: A law that discriminates against a particular group lacks justice and undermines the principles of equality.


9. "Justice is truth in action." – Benjamin Disraeli

  • Meaning: Disraeli implies that justice embodies the application of truth, suggesting that fairness must be based on factual realities.

  • Example: An honest investigation that leads to fair outcomes represents justice as it acts on the truth of the situation.


10. "A society that has lost its sense of justice is not a society." – Unknown

  • Meaning: This quote highlights that a society without a commitment to justice loses its moral foundation and societal integrity.

  • Example: Widespread corruption and lack of accountability can lead to societal breakdown, as citizens lose faith in their institutions.


11. "Justice is the soul of the law." – Unknown

  • Meaning: This quote emphasizes that justice is essential to the law, giving it purpose and meaning beyond mere regulations.

  • Example: Laws that uphold human rights and protect the vulnerable reflect justice as the core of legal systems.


12. "The measure of a society can be how well its people treat their most vulnerable." – Mahatma Gandhi

  • Meaning: Gandhi suggests that the true test of a society's justice is in how it cares for those who are most at risk or marginalized.

  • Example: Programs that support the homeless and advocate for their rights demonstrate a society’s commitment to justice and compassion.


13. "Justice is the fairest and most humane thing of all." – Unknown

  • Meaning: This quote underscores the idea that justice represents fairness and compassion, aiming to create a more humane society.

  • Example: Restorative justice programs that seek to heal rather than punish reflect a more humane approach to justice.


14. "Justice is not about revenge; it is about restoration." – Unknown

  • Meaning: This quote emphasizes that true justice focuses on restoring balance and healing rather than seeking retribution.

  • Example: Mediation in disputes aims to restore relationships and understanding rather than merely punishing wrongdoing.


15. "Justice is the guardian of the oppressed." – Unknown

  • Meaning: This quote suggests that justice serves as a protector for those who cannot defend themselves, advocating for their rights and dignity.

  • Example: Legal aid organizations that assist individuals facing unjust treatment exemplify how justice acts as a safeguard for the vulnerable.


These quotes reflect the various dimensions of justice, emphasizing its importance in society and the moral imperative to uphold fairness and equality. They serve as reminders of the ongoing struggle for justice and the principles that guide ethical behavior in our communities.

Liberty, equality - bad principles! The only true principle for humanity is justice; and justice to the feeble is protection and kindness.

- Henri-Frederic Amiel Quotes

Justice is the constant and perpetual will to allot to every man his due.

- Epicurus Quotes

Many that live deserve death.  And some die that deserve life.  Can you give it to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety.  Even the wise cannot see all ends.

- J. R. R. Tolkien Quotes

Justice requires that to lawfully constituted Authority there be given that respect and obedience which is its due; that the laws which are made shall be in wise conformity with the common good; and that, as a matter of conscience all men shall render obedience to these laws.

- Pop Pius XI

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

- Justice Quotes by Abraham Lincoln

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

- Justice Quotes by Abraham Lincoln Download or Share

Courage is of no value unless accompanied by justice; yet if all men became just, there would be no need for courage.

- Justice Quotes by Agesilaus the Second

Courage is of no value unless accompanied by justice; yet if all men became just, there would be no need for courage.

- Justice Quotes by Agesilaus the Second Download or Share

The sword of justice has no scabbard.

- Justice Quotes by Antione De Riveral Download or Share

It is in justice that the ordering of society is centered.

- Justice Quotes by Aristotle Download or Share

Justice does not come from the outside.  It comes from inner peace.

- Barbara Hall Quotes

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.

- Groucho Marx Quote

If it were not for injustice, men would not know justice.

- Quote by Heraclitus

The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is a duty of the living to do so for them.

- Lois McMaster Bujold Quotes

Nobody can give you freedom.  Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man you take it.

- Malcolm X Quotes

Injustice anywhere is a treat to justice everywhere.

- Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes

Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong.

- Theodore Roosevelt Quotes

Justice delayed, is justice denied.

- William Gladstone Quotes