--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All creatures come into the world…" description: "\"“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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/j-m-coetzee-2457_justice_all-creatures-come-into-the-world-bringi_1743782.jpg" --- # All creatures come into the world bringing with them the… ![“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…” quote by J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/j-m-coetzee-2457_justice_all-creatures-come-into-the-world-bringi_1743782.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/j-m-coetzee-2457_justice_all-creatures-come-into-the-world-bringi_1743782.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/j-m-coetzee-2457_justice_all-creatures-come-into-the-world-bringi_1743782.jpg) > ““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.”” [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) ## 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 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-said-1542957/) [Memory Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-justice-1156603/) [Second best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-best/) [Uphold Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uphold-laws-631455/) [World Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-laws-1069988/) ## Related quotes > [You think you know what is just and what is not. I understand. We all think we know." I had no doubt, myself, then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/you-think-you-know-what-is-just-and-what-is-not-i-understand-we-all/) [J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/) > [All creatures come into the world bringing with them the memory of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/all-creatures-come-into-the-world-bringing-with-them-the-memory-of/) [J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/) > [“A week ago," Ishmael said, "when we were talking about laws, you said that there's only one kind of law about how people should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/a-week-ago-ishmael-said-when-we-were-talking-about-laws-you-said-that/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [“If I, who am rhu'ad, do not break the laws," she said, "then no one will ever dare to break them, and our planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/if-i-who-am-rhu-ad-do-not-break-the-laws-she-said-then-no-one-will/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“Giving up all pretense of obeying natural laws again, I see,” he said. “Natural laws?” Syl said, finding the concept amusing. “Laws are of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/giving-up-all-pretense-of-obeying-natural-laws-again-i-see-he-said/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“There must be a lot of duplication in our country’s laws," said Dukhi. "Every time there are elections, they talk of passing the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/there-must-be-a-lot-of-duplication-in-our-country-s-laws-said-dukhi/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [The question before the human race is, whether the God of nature shall govern the world by his own laws, or whether priests and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-question-before-the-human-race-is-whether-the-god-of-nature-shall-2/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The Bible of nature is the best damn Bible in the world. Its laws are perfect and grand, and all the prayers in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-bible-of-nature-is-the-best-damn-bible-in-the-world-its-laws-are/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [In this world laws are written for the lofty aim of "the common good" and then acted out in life on the basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/in-this-world-laws-are-written-for-the-lofty-aim-of-the-common-good-2/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [As long as it's a world, it has laws. Why, I don't know, it's just the way it is. In Nirvana, there are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/as-long-as-it-s-a-world-it-has-laws-why-i-don-t-know-it-s-just-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The question before the human race is, Whether the God of nature shall govern the world by his own laws, or whether Priests and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-question-before-the-human-race-is-whether-the-god-of-nature-shall/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [In this world laws are written for the lofty aim of "the common good" and then acted out in life on the basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/in-this-world-laws-are-written-for-the-lofty-aim-of-the-common-good/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [“I'm sworn to uphold his laws. Saying that you killed someone because they annoyed you isn't codified as acceptable, by those laws, anywhere I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sagara-west/i-m-sworn-to-uphold-his-laws-saying-that-you-killed-someone-because/) [Michelle Sagara West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sagara-west/) > [Democracy cannot breathe, indeed will die, if those enjoined to protect it and uphold the laws snuff it out - with no consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/democracy-cannot-breathe-indeed-will-die-if-those-enjoined-to-protect/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [“They unlike their deceitful brothers, uphold the laws of our realm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-knoebel/they-unlike-their-deceitful-brothers-uphold-the-laws-of-our-realm/) [Candace Knoebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-knoebel/) ## More by J.M. Coetzee > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“I truly believe I am not afraid of death. What I shrink from, I believe, is the shame of dying as stupid and befuddled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-truly-believe-i-am-not-afraid-of-death-what-i-shrink-from-i-believe/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Technically he is old enough to be her father; but then, technically one can be a father at twelve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/technically-he-is-old-enough-to-be-her-father-but-then-technically/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“I remember asking John, after Dusklands, what new project he had on the go. His answer was vague. 'There is always something or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-remember-asking-john-after-dusklands-what-new-project-he-had-on-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“The truth is, he tired of criticism, tired of prose measured by the yard." --Disgrace”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/the-truth-is-he-tired-of-criticism-tired-of-prose-measured-by-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Since I was in flight from religion, I assumed that my classmates had to be in flight from religion too, albeit in a quieter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/since-i-was-in-flight-from-religion-i-assumed-that-my-classmates-had/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Lucy was frightened, frightened near to death. Her voice choked, she could not breath, her limbs went numb. "This is not happening", she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/lucy-was-frightened-frightened-near-to-death-her-voice-choked-she/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“It occurs to me that we crush insects beneath our feet, miracles of creation too, beetles, worms, cockroaches, ants, in their various ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/it-occurs-to-me-that-we-crush-insects-beneath-our-feet-miracles-of/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“He sits with the pen in his hand, holding himself back from a descent into representations that have no place in the world, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/he-sits-with-the-pen-in-his-hand-holding-himself-back-from-a-descent/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Do you remember Vlek, who was such a good sheepdog that she and Jakob alone could drive a whole flock past you at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/do-you-remember-vlek-who-was-such-a-good-sheepdog-that-she-and-jakob/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“We are accustomed to believe that our world was created by God speaking the Word; but I ask, may it not rather be that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/we-are-accustomed-to-believe-that-our-world-was-created-by-god/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“...from the oppression of such freedom who would not welcome the liberation of confinement?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/from-the-oppression-of-such-freedom-who-would-not-welcome-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“If he has a last thought, if there is time for a last thought, it will simply be, So this is what a last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/if-he-has-a-last-thought-if-there-is-time-for-a-last-thought-it-will/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“At what age , he wonders, did Origen castrate himself? Not the most graceful solution, but then ageing is not a graceful bussines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/at-what-age-he-wonders-did-origen-castrate-himself-not-the-most/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“...he seems to be on the brink of one of his bad spells again, one of the fits of lugubrious self-pity that turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/he-seems-to-be-on-the-brink-of-one-of-his-bad-spells-again-one-of-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) [Explore all 122 J.M. Coetzee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) ## 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": "“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. 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