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Quotes from A Theory of Justice — John Rawls

1921–2002 United States

← All quotes by John Rawls

58 quotes

It may be expedient but it is not just that some should have less in order that others may prosper.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

No one deserves his greater natural capacity nor merits a more favorable starting place in society.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Being happy involves both a certain achievement in action and a rational assurance about the outcome.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Ideally a just constitution would be a just procedure arranged to insure a just outcome.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

I have assumed throughout that the persons in the original position are rational.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

If A were not allowed his better position, B would be even worse off than he is.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Clearly when the liberties are left unrestricted they collide with one another.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

The even larger difference between rich and poor makes the latter even worse off, and this violates the principle of mutual advantage.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

An individual who finds that he enjoys seeing others in positions of lesser liberty understands that he has no claim whatever to this enjoyment.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Inequalities are permissible when they maximize, or at least all contribute to, the long term expectations of the least fortunate group in society.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

A just system must generate its own support.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

The fault of the utilitarian doctrine is that it mistakes impersonality for impartiality.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

There are infinitely many variations of the initial situation and therefore no doubt indefinitely many theorems of moral geometry.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Greater intelligence, wealth and opportunity, for example, allow a person to achieve ends he could not rationally contemplate otherwise.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

The difference principle, for example, requires that the higher expectations of the more advantaged contribute to the prospects of the least advantaged.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Ideal legislators do not vote their interests.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

An intolerant sect has no right to complain when it is denied an equal liberty. … A person’s right to complain is limited to principles he acknowledges himself.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

A scheme is unjust when the higher expectations, one or more of them, are excessive. If these expectations were decreased, the situation of the less favored would be improved.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

First of all, principles should be general. That is, it must be possible to formulate them without use of what would be intuitively recognized as proper names, or rigged definite descriptions.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

I am particularly grateful to Nozick for his unfailing help and encouragement during the last stages.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: John Rawls (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.