Justice Quote by J.M. Coetzee
““All creatures come into the world bringing with them the memory of justice. "But we live in a world of laws," I said to my poor prisoner, "a world of the second best. There is nothing we can do about that. We are fallen creatures. All we can do is uphold the laws, all of us, without allowing the memory of justice to fade.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee, 1999
Justice is an innate moral memory that erodes under the weight of human law, leaving us to maintain law while remembering justice.
In simple terms: Human law often overshadows innate sense of justice.
Key Takeaway
Uphold law but keep justice alive.
Themes
justice
law
human nature
morality
memory
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- courtroom decisions
- political debates
- personal conscience
- legal reform
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
social contract
fallibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance law with deeper moral memory?
- Can justice survive in purely legal systems?
A Different Perspective
Laws cannot fully replace innate moral sense; they may conflict.
![“This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day [as a Fairfax Justice of the Peace] since I have been at Home. I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extreamly disagreeable.” quote by George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b92/george-mason-8435_bedfellows_this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young_3953.jpg)
