--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Justice is rather the activity of truth…" description: "\"Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in itself. Truth tells us what is due to others, and justice renders that due. Injustice is acti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/horace-walpole-3357_acting_justice-is-rather-the-activity-of-truth_1032603.jpg" --- # Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in… ![“Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in itself. Truth tells us what is due to others, and justice renders that due. Injustice is acting a lie.” quote by Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/horace-walpole-3357_acting_justice-is-rather-the-activity-of-truth_1032603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/horace-walpole-3357_acting_justice-is-rather-the-activity-of-truth_1032603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/horace-walpole-3357_acting_justice-is-rather-the-activity-of-truth_1032603.jpg) > “Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in itself. Truth tells us what is due to others, and justice renders that due. Injustice is acting a lie.” [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) ## 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 the practical application of truth, ensuring fairness, while injustice is the opposite, a falsehood in action. **In simple terms:** Justice applies truth to fairness. Key Takeaway Act according to truth and fairness. Themes fairness truth morality Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - legal decisions - personal disputes - policy making Key Concepts ethics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate truth from fairness? - What actions embody justice in daily life? A Different Perspective Truth alone may not guarantee justice without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-activity-2367008/) [Justice Renders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-renders-2367009/) [Tells Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tells-justice-693406/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-virtue-1168298/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Justice renders to every one his due.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/justice-renders-to-every-one-his-due/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who is for or against it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-m-for-truth-no-matter-who-tells-it-i-m-for-justice-no-matter-who-is/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being, first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-m-for-truth-no-matter-who-tells-it-i-m-for-justice-no-matter-who-it-2/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda. I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-ve-had-enough-of-someone-else-s-propaganda-i-m-for-truth-no-matter/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-m-for-truth-no-matter-who-tells-it-i-m-for-justice-no-matter-who-it/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [What is man's ultimate direction in life? It is to look for love, truth, virtue, and beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichi-suzuki/what-is-man-s-ultimate-direction-in-life-it-is-to-look-for-love-truth/) [Shinichi Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichi-suzuki/) > [“After all, truth is not always a virtue when it is pursued for its own sake or, worse, simply to make its teller feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-sundquist/after-all-truth-is-not-always-a-virtue-when-it-is-pursued-for-its-own/) [Josh Sundquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-sundquist/) > [What is the good life? What is the good man? The good woman? 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It is never charitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/truth-is-not-a-virtue-but-a-passion-it-is-never-charitable/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“It would also require a conscious effort to look at the world from unfamiliar standpoints and admit that the West has no monopoly on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-luce/it-would-also-require-a-conscious-effort-to-look-at-the-world-from/) [Edward Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-luce/) > [“Sincerity Sincerity is the first of the virtues. The lie is the weapon of the weak. Respect for truth is the virtue of adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-jelbert/sincerity-sincerity-is-the-first-of-the-virtues-the-lie-is-the-weapon/) [Will Jelbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-jelbert/) > [A life in harmony with nature, the love of truth and virtue, will purge the eyes to understanding her text.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-life-in-harmony-with-nature-the-love-of-truth-and-virtue-will-purge/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Truth, naked, unblushing truth, the first virtue of all serious history, must be the sole recommendation of this personal narrative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/truth-naked-unblushing-truth-the-first-virtue-of-all-serious-history/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More by Horace Walpole > [ René of Anjou \[(1409-80)\] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it \[her tomb\] openedon… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/ren-of-anjou-1409-80-painted-a-picture-of-his-mistress-s-corpse-as-he/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Our supreme governors, the mob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/our-supreme-governors-the-mob/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [A poet who makes use of a worse word instead of a better, because the former fits the rhyme or the measure, though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/a-poet-who-makes-use-of-a-worse-word-instead-of-a-better-because-the/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Foolish writers and readers are created for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/foolish-writers-and-readers-are-created-for-each-other/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [I do not dislike the French from the vulgar antipathy between neighboring nations, but for their insolent and unfounded air of superiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/i-do-not-dislike-the-french-from-the-vulgar-antipathy-between/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Life is a farce, and should not end with a mourning scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/life-is-a-farce-and-should-not-end-with-a-mourning-scene/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Lord Bath used to say of women, who are apt to say that they will follow their own judgment, that they could not follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/lord-bath-used-to-say-of-women-who-are-apt-to-say-that-they-will/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [An ancient prophecy ... pronounced, That the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/an-ancient-prophecy-pronounced-that-the-castle-and-lordship-of/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Plot, rules, nor even poetry, are not half so great beauties in tragedy or comedy as a just imitation of nature, of character, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/plot-rules-nor-even-poetry-are-not-half-so-great-beauties-in-tragedy/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [“But alas! my Lord, what is blood! what is nobility! We are all reptiles, miserable, sinful creatures. It is piety alone that can distinguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/but-alas-my-lord-what-is-blood-what-is-nobility-we-are-all-reptiles/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/i-do-not-admire-politicians-but-when-they-are-excellent-in-their-way/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Alexander at the head of the world never tasted the true pleasure that boys of his own age have enjoyed at the head of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/alexander-at-the-head-of-the-world-never-tasted-the-true-pleasure/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/the-whole-secret-of-life-is-to-be-interested-in-one-thing-profoundly/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [The best philosophy is to do one's duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one's lot; bless the goodness that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/the-best-philosophy-is-to-do-one-s-duties-take-the-world-as-it-comes/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I'd place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/oh-that-i-were-seated-as-high-as-my-ambition-i-d-place-my-naked-foot/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) [Explore all 132 Horace Walpole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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