--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was taught that justice is a right that…" description: "\"I was taught that justice is a right that every American should have. Also justice should be the goal of every American. I think that's what makes this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/andrew-hawkins-24651_apology_i-was-taught-that-justice-is-a-right-tha_2851027.jpg" --- # I was taught that justice is a right that every American… ![“I was taught that justice is a right that every American should have. Also justice should be the goal of every American. I think that's what makes this country. To me, justice means the innocent should be found innocent. It means that those who do wrong should get their due punishment. Ultimately…” quote by Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/andrew-hawkins-24651_apology_i-was-taught-that-justice-is-a-right-tha_2851027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/andrew-hawkins-24651_apology_i-was-taught-that-justice-is-a-right-tha_2851027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/andrew-hawkins-24651_apology_i-was-taught-that-justice-is-a-right-tha_2851027.jpg) > “I was taught that justice is a right that every American should have. Also justice should be the goal of every American. I think that's what makes this country. To me, justice means the innocent should be found innocent. It means that those who do wrong should get their due punishment. Ultimately, it means fair treatment. So a call for justice shouldn't offend or disrespect anybody. A call for justice shouldn't warrant an apology.” [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justice is a universal right, ensuring innocence is protected and wrongdoing punished fairly. **In simple terms:** Justice means fair treatment for all. Key Takeaway Uphold fairness in law. Themes justice fairness rights equality Mood thoughtful determined Type political ethical When to use this quote - court reforms - public policy debates - civil rights education Key Concepts Legal ethics social contract Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards ensure impartial justice? - How do we address systemic bias? A Different Perspective Justice can be unevenly applied across groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Disrespect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disrespect/) [Dues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dues/) [Fairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairs/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-goal-1791048/) [Justice Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-means-762877/) [Justice Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-right-740865/) [Justice Shouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-shouldn-3793187/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special to me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-to-me/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Treatment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treatment/) [Warrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warrants/) ## Related quotes > [“The resources God gives us are to be used for the benefit of others, not ourselves. That’s what so many of the Old Testament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-davis-jr/the-resources-god-gives-us-are-to-be-used-for-the-benefit-of-others/) [Will Davis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-davis-jr/) > [As you may know, I'm the co-founder of a political organization called Real Justice. Our goal is to help elect progressive, reform-minded prosecutors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/as-you-may-know-i-m-the-co-founder-of-a-political-organization-called/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [“A student recently posed another question that gave me pause: “Given that there are only nine Supreme Court Justices, each with life tenure, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/a-student-recently-posed-another-question-that-gave-me-pause-given/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [The nature of men and of organized society dictates the maintenance in every field of action of the highest and purest standards of justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-nature-of-men-and-of-organized-society-dictates-the-maintenance/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The criminal justice system is not the right place - or it shouldn't be the place of first resort to provide addiction or mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-criminal-justice-system-is-not-the-right-place-or-it-shouldn-t-be/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Justice of right is always to take precedence over might.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/justice-of-right-is-always-to-take-precedence-over-might/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [Joy and pleasure is at the end of the justice. A right understanding of who God is and who we are in His creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/joy-and-pleasure-is-at-the-end-of-the-justice-a-right-understanding/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [“THUS says the LORD:           Maintain justice, and do what is right,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thus-says-the-lord-maintain-justice-and-do-what-is-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Justice is the right of the weakest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/justice-is-the-right-of-the-weakest/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Do not expect justice where might is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/do-not-expect-justice-where-might-is-right/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Peaceful death is really an essential human right, more essential perhaps even than the right to vote or the right to justice; it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/peaceful-death-is-really-an-essential-human-right-more-essential/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) > [From what I can see it's that, if you have money you have access to justice. If you don't, it's becoming increasingly less and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/from-what-i-can-see-it-s-that-if-you-have-money-you-have-access-to/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [But two things are wanting in American civilization - a keener and deeper, broader and tenderer sense of justice - a sense of humanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-harper/but-two-things-are-wanting-in-american-civilization-a-keener-and/) [Frances Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-harper/) > [Law is a process. If there is equality of process for everybody, then that's our definition of justice. Whether or not what is done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-george/law-is-a-process-if-there-is-equality-of-process-for-everybody-then/) [Francis George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-george/) > [The protection of God cannot, without sacrilege, be invoked but in behalf of justice and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lajos-kossuth/the-protection-of-god-cannot-without-sacrilege-be-invoked-but-in/) [Lajos Kossuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lajos-kossuth/) ## More by Andrew Hawkins > [How you educate the people around you, what steps you take toward making it better, what sacrifices you make. The equation of life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/how-you-educate-the-people-around-you-what-steps-you-take-toward/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [They want everything to be better for their children. I think athletes are starting to see that and that's why they're starting to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/they-want-everything-to-be-better-for-their-children-i-think-athletes/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [I don't think I'm saying anything wrong. And that's just how I judge it. I believe it's not so much about the people, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/i-don-t-think-i-m-saying-anything-wrong-and-that-s-just-how-i-judge/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [There's bad people since the beginning of time. Literally one of the first four human beings was someone who killed somebody. So that's never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/there-s-bad-people-since-the-beginning-of-time-literally-one-of-the/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [I think people are wrong to do it, to compare him to your way of wanting to do it. If you're passionate about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/i-think-people-are-wrong-to-do-it-to-compare-him-to-your-way-of/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [Shame on me, for me to have this platform and me to have this opportunity to stand up for something that I thought was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/shame-on-me-for-me-to-have-this-platform-and-me-to-have-this/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [We're just at a point in regard to race relations, we're at a tipping point in America. It's a crucial time. It's sad, honestly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/we-re-just-at-a-point-in-regard-to-race-relations-we-re-at-a-tipping/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [I honestly think there's people who just perceive me different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/i-honestly-think-there-s-people-who-just-perceive-me-different/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [Whatever backlash I was going to get, whatever consequence there was for stating my opinion, I was OK with. Because I look at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/whatever-backlash-i-was-going-to-get-whatever-consequence-there-was/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [A lot of things create a distraction, and when you're on a quest as a football team you want to limit distractions. I'm very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/a-lot-of-things-create-a-distraction-and-when-you-re-on-a-quest-as-a/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [I'm very much still connected to the way that I've always been perceived. And it happens. I'm not trying to play up anything, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/i-m-very-much-still-connected-to-the-way-that-i-ve-always-been/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [I'm in a unique situation. I'm 5-foot-6, 175 pounds, so I wouldn't say people are super afraid of me. I live a normal life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/i-m-in-a-unique-situation-i-m-5-foot-6-175-pounds-so-i-wouldn-t-say/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [I was willing to put it at risk in order for someone to gain, in order for the situation to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/i-was-willing-to-put-it-at-risk-in-order-for-someone-to-gain-in-order/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [I was always the underdog that everyone identified with, and I still think I'm that way. But if you're on the other side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/i-was-always-the-underdog-that-everyone-identified-with-and-i-still/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [I just take the Cleveland Browns - we are a very close football team. We care about each other, and we understand each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/i-just-take-the-cleveland-browns-we-are-a-very-close-football-team-we/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) [Explore all 24 Andrew Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) ## More Apology quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) [Allison Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pataki/) > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-don-t-care-if-you-ve-changed-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-now-i-don-t/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. 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