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Justice
- Jedem das Seine.To each his own.often quoted as ‘Everyone gets what he deserves’Bold: inscription on the gate of Buchenwald concentration camp, 1937; see
- Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and the surest of all guards against improbity.1748–1832 English philosopher: Publicity in the Courts of Justice (1843)
- Life for life,
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.: Exodus ch. 21, v. 23 - It is better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer.1723–80 English jurist: Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765) bk. 4, ch. 27
- When I hear of an ‘equity’ in a case like this, I am reminded of a blind man in a dark room—looking for a black hat—which isn't there.1835–94 English judge: John Alderson Foote Pie-Powder (1911)
- Justice is truth in action.1804–81 British Tory statesman and novelist; Prime Minister 1868, 1874–80: speech, House of Commons, 11 February 1851
- Fiat justitia et pereat mundus.Let justice be done, though the world perish.Watson1503–64 Holy Roman Emperor from 1558: motto; Johannes Manlius Locorum Communium Collectanea (1563); see
- Justice delayed is justice denied.Magna Carta1809–98 British Liberal statesman, Prime Minister 1868–74, 1880–5, 1886, 1892–4: speech on the state of Ireland, House of Commons, 16 March 1868; see
- But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up
And hope and history rhyme.1939–2013 Irish poet: The Cure at Troy (version of Sophocles' Philoctetes, 1990) - A long line of cases shows that it is not merely of some importance, but is of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.1870–1943 British lawyer and politician: Rex v Sussex Justices, 9 November 1923
- Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.1929–68 American civil rights leader: letter from Birmingham Jail, Alabama, 16 April 1963
- I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.1809–65 American statesman, 16th President 1861–5: remark to Joseph Gillespie, in letter from Gillespie to Herald and Torch Light [Hagerstown, MD] 15 March 1876
- To no man will we sell, or deny, or delay, right or justice.political charter signed by King John at Runnymede, 1215: Clause 40
- In England, justice is open to all—like the Ritz Hotel.1830–1908 Irish judge: R. E. Megarry Miscellany-at-Law (1955)
- Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice.1880–1956 American journalist and literary critic: Prejudices 3rd series (1922)
- If the parties will at my hands call for justice, then, all were it my father stood on the one side, and the Devil on the other, his cause being good, the Devil should have right.1478–1535 English scholar and saint: William Roper Life of Sir Thomas More
- The arc of history is long but it bends towards justice.King, Parker1961– American Democratic statesman, 44th President from 2009: speech, George Mason University, 2 February 2007, in Guardian 10 February 2007; see
- What I say is that ‘just’ or ‘right’ means nothing but what is in the interest of the stronger party.spoken by Thrasymachusbc Greek philosopher: The Republic bk. 1, 338c (tr. F. M. Cornford)429–347
- A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.1858–1919 American Republican statesman, 26th President 1901–9: speech at the Lincoln Monument, Springfield, Illinois, 4 June 1903
- J'accuse.I accuse.title of an open letter to the President of the French Republic, in connection with the Dreyfus affairL'Aurore 13 January 18981840–1902 French novelist: in