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Properly understood, then, the desire to act justly derives in part from the desire to express most fully what we are or can be, namely free and equal rational beings with the liberty to choose.

— John Rawls A Theory of Justice (1971)

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More quotes by John Rawls

Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

The suppression of liberty is always likely to be irrational.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

The intolerant can be viewed as free-riders, as persons who seek the advantages of just institutions while not doing their share to uphold them.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Social and economic inequalities, for example inequalities of wealth and authority, are just only if they result in compensating benefits for everyone, and in particular for the least advantaged members of society.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

Intuitionism is not constructive, perfectionism is unacceptable.

A Theory of Justice (1971)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: John Rawls (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.