--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one really wishes to know how justice…" description: "\"If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/james-a-baldwin-2080_class_if-one-really-wishes-to-know-how-justice_1290476.jpg" --- # If one really wishes to know how justice is administered… ![“If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected members of the middle class. One goes to the unprotected - those, precisely, who need the law's protection most! - and listens to their testimony.” quote by James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/james-a-baldwin-2080_class_if-one-really-wishes-to-know-how-justice_1290476.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/james-a-baldwin-2080_class_if-one-really-wishes-to-know-how-justice_1290476.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/james-a-baldwin-2080_class_if-one-really-wishes-to-know-how-justice_1290476.jpg) > “If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected members of the middle class. One goes to the unprotected - those, precisely, who need the law's protection most! - and listens to their testimony.” [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) ## 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 best understood by listening to those most vulnerable, not the privileged enforcers. **In simple terms:** Listen to the unprotected to see true justice. Key Takeaway Seek voices of the marginalized. Themes justice equity voice society Mood reflective concerned Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - human rights investigations - policy making - community outreach - legal reform Key Concepts power dynamics systemic bias social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure marginalized voices are heard? - What barriers prevent their testimony from being valued? A Different Perspective The privileged may also offer insight, though their perspective can be limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law and justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-and-justice/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarianism/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Policemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policemen/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Any new legal measures, or cooperative arrangements between government and companies meant to keep people from organizing violence or criminal actions, must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/any-new-legal-measures-or-cooperative-arrangements-between-government/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [“No one was above the law, and no one was below its protection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-hodgson/no-one-was-above-the-law-and-no-one-was-below-its-protection/) [Mona Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-hodgson/) > [It is fit that justice should be administered with great caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/it-is-fit-that-justice-should-be-administered-with-great-caution/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [That justice should be administered between men, it is necessary that testimonies of fact be alleged; and that witnesses should apprehend themselves greatly obliged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-barrow/that-justice-should-be-administered-between-men-it-is-necessary-that/) [Isaac Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-barrow/) > [Every human tribunal ought to take care to administer justice, as we look hereafter to have justice administered to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-erskine-1st-baron-erskine/every-human-tribunal-ought-to-take-care-to-administer-justice-as-we/) [Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-erskine-1st-baron-erskine/) > [The law has no compassion. 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Baldwin > [One cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing one's own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/one-cannot-deny-the-humanity-of-another-without-diminishing-one-s-own/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [All I know about music is that not many people ever really hear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/all-i-know-about-music-is-that-not-many-people-ever-really-hear-it/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [I've always believed that you can think positive just as well as you can think negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/i-ve-always-believed-that-you-can-think-positive-just-as-well-as-you/) [James A. 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