--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Justice is about making them pay for…" description: "\"“Justice is about making them pay for [her] pain. Revenge is making them pay for yours.”\" — Erica O'Rourke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/erica-o-rourke-36529_justice_justice-is-about-making-them-pay-for-her_3181570.jpg" --- # Justice is about making them pay for \[her\] pain. Revenge… ![“Justice is about making them pay for [her] pain. Revenge is making them pay for yours.” quote by Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/erica-o-rourke-36529_justice_justice-is-about-making-them-pay-for-her_3181570.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/erica-o-rourke-36529_justice_justice-is-about-making-them-pay-for-her_3181570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/erica-o-rourke-36529_justice_justice-is-about-making-them-pay-for-her_3181570.jpg) > ““Justice is about making them pay for \[her\] pain. Revenge is making them pay for yours.”” [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justice seeks to compensate for another's suffering, while revenge targets personal grievance. **In simple terms:** Justice pays for others' pain; revenge pays for yours. Key Takeaway Distinguish between justice and revenge motives. Themes ethics revenge justice pain Mood thought‑provoking critical Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - legal battles - personal conflicts - social activism - therapeutic closure Key Concepts Moral philosophy retributive justice personal grievance Questions to Reflect On - Is revenge ever justified? - How does personal pain shape our sense of justice? A Different Perspective Justice may be limited by systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-making-1525593/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-revenge-5832397/) [Pay Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-pain-5832399/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Revenge Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge-making-5832398/) ## Related quotes > [Real revenge is making something of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/real-revenge-is-making-something-of-yourself/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [I think God's justice is making wrongs right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-think-god-s-justice-is-making-wrongs-right/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I think it's only right to do justice to making a character feel real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-think-it-s-only-right-to-do-justice-to-making-a-character-feel-real/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [“The most treacherous form of evil is often invisible. This form can shift to engage it can take on the appearance and expectation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-beverly/the-most-treacherous-form-of-evil-is-often-invisible-this-form-can/) [H.G. Beverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-beverly/) > [I think God's justice making wrong's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-onsteen/i-think-god-s-justice-making-wrong-s-right/) [Joel Onsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-onsteen/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Clarence Darrow, one of history's greatest lawyers, once noted "There is no such thing as justice, in or out of court." Perhaps because justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/clarence-darrow-one-of-history-s-greatest-lawyers-once-noted-there-is/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Convulsive anger storms at large; or pale And silent, settles into full revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/convulsive-anger-storms-at-large-or-pale-and-silent-settles-into-full/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The best revenge in the world is success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/the-best-revenge-in-the-world-is-success/) [Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/) > [Revenge is a dish better severed cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan/revenge-is-a-dish-better-severed-cold/) [Sushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan/) > [“The best way to take revenge of me is to make me see you successful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/the-best-way-to-take-revenge-of-me-is-to-make-me-see-you-successful/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) ## More by Erica O'Rourke > [“In the end, though, it doesn't really matter. I think the key is to accept who you are, however you got that way. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/in-the-end-though-it-doesn-t-really-matter-i-think-the-key-is-to/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“Every time someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world branches off from the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/every-time-someone-makes-a-choice-a-new-parallel-world-branches-off/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“your swoonin' needs work." his accent was back. "so does your alias," I snapped. "Dr.Smith? Seriously? Why not John Doe? And how is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/your-swoonin-needs-work-his-accent-was-back-so-does-your-alias-i/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“People fail each other all the time, Mo, and they forgive each other, and start again. It's a question of knowing the other person's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/people-fail-each-other-all-the-time-mo-and-they-forgive-each-other/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“How's Cujo?" "He's good. Thank you for saving him." ... "You asked," he said with a shrug.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/how-s-cujo-he-s-good-thank-you-for-saving-him-you-asked-he-said-with/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“There's a danger in being drawn to something that's not real, in giving yourself to something you can never be a part of, instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/there-s-a-danger-in-being-drawn-to-something-that-s-not-real-in/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“People spot a big black lens, and they worry about what they're doing, or how their hair looks. Nobody see the person holding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/people-spot-a-big-black-lens-and-they-worry-about-what-they-re-doing/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“The guy from the bar appeared silently at Uncle Billy's side, his expression cool and steady. He nodded at me once, and turned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/the-guy-from-the-bar-appeared-silently-at-uncle-billy-s-side-his/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“I met his eyes. Unlike Callie, he wouldn't be fooled with a smile. Once you've glimpsed something's true nature, it's hard to see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/i-met-his-eyes-unlike-callie-he-wouldn-t-be-fooled-with-a-smile-once/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“It's not only the demons who have the power to break you. It's the small, unexpected kindness, the flame that throws the darkness into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/it-s-not-only-the-demons-who-have-the-power-to-break-you-it-s-the/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“We don't need an alarm system. We barely have anythings worth stealing." "Do you want me moving in?" "NO!" "then you're getting an alarm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/we-don-t-need-an-alarm-system-we-barely-have-anythings-worth-stealing/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) > [“No! See, that's the thing-you were the one I would have chosen, even if there were no fate." ... "I wanted you, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-o-rourke/no-see-that-s-the-thing-you-were-the-one-i-would-have-chosen-even-if/) [Erica O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) [Explore all 13 Erica O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-o-rourke/) ## More Justice quotes > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/) [Joseph Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-anderson/) > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) [Donald P. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-p-ryan/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [There is no freedom without justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/there-is-no-freedom-without-justice/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) [Browse all 13,527 Justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Justice is about making them pay for [her] pain. 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