---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The laws of changeless justice bind…"
description: "\"The laws of changeless justice bind oppressor and oppressed; and, close as sin and suffering joined we march to fate abreast.\" — John Greenleaf Whittier"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_destiny_the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppr_3152044.png"
---

#  The laws of changeless justice bind oppressor and…

![“The laws of changeless justice bind oppressor and oppressed; and, close as sin and suffering joined we march to fate abreast.” quote by John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_destiny_the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppr_3152044.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_destiny_the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppr_3152044.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_destiny_the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppr_3152044.png)

> “The laws of changeless justice bind oppressor and oppressed; and, close as sin and suffering joined we march to fate abreast.”

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes inevitable, intertwined fate of oppressor and oppressed, linked by sin and suffering.

**In simple terms:** Oppressor and oppressed share a tragic destiny.

Key Takeaway

Recognize shared humanity in conflict.

Themes

fate justice humanity

Mood

somber thoughtful

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- social movements
- reconciliation
- historical analysis

Key Concepts

interconnected suffering moral reckoning

Questions to Reflect On

- How does shared fate influence reconciliation?
- Can justice be achieved without acknowledging suffering?

A Different Perspective

May simplify complex power dynamics.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed/) [Oppressors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressors/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/)

## Related quotes

> [Take sides. Neutrality always serves the oppressor and never the oppressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-sides-neutrality-always-serves-the-oppressor-and-never-the/)

[Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/)

> [But nonviolence was never for the oppressor; it was for the oppressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/but-nonviolence-was-never-for-the-oppressor-it-was-for-the-oppressed/)

[Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/)

> [“Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master and journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/freeman-and-slave-patrician-and-plebeian-lord-and-serf-guild-master/)

[Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/)

> [If one is free at heart, no man-made chains can bind one to servitude, but if one's mind is so manipulated and controlled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/if-one-is-free-at-heart-no-man-made-chains-can-bind-one-to-servitude/)

[Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/)

> [Power, wrongly used, defeats the oppressor as well as the oppressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/power-wrongly-used-defeats-the-oppressor-as-well-as-the-oppressed/)

[Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/)

> [“Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master and journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/freeman-and-slave-patrician-and-plebeian-lord-and-serf-guild-master-2/)

[Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/)

> [“Once their rage explodes, they recover their lost coherence, they experience self-knowledge through reconstruction of themselves; from afar we see their war as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frantz-fanon/once-their-rage-explodes-they-recover-their-lost-coherence-they/)

[Frantz Fanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frantz-fanon/)

> [God wants to set the oppressed free from being oppressed and the oppressors free from oppressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/god-wants-to-set-the-oppressed-free-from-being-oppressed-and-the/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Our task is not to liberate the oppressed, but to liberate the oppressors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/our-task-is-not-to-liberate-the-oppressed-but-to-liberate-the/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [The rights of no oppressed people have ever yet been obtained by a voluntary act of justice on the part of the oppressors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-delany/the-rights-of-no-oppressed-people-have-ever-yet-been-obtained-by-a/)

[Martin Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-delany/)

> [REVOLUTIONARY: An oppressed person waiting for the opportunity to become an oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/revolutionary-an-oppressed-person-waiting-for-the-opportunity-to/)

[Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/)

> [The oppressed must never allow the conscience of the oppressor to slumber. Religion reminds every man that he is his brother's keeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-oppressed-must-never-allow-the-conscience-of-the-oppressor-to/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [It is only the oppressed who, by freeing themselves, can free their oppressors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/it-is-only-the-oppressed-who-by-freeing-themselves-can-free-their/)

[Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/)

> [It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of our own people became a hunger for the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-was-during-those-long-and-lonely-years-that-my-hunger-for-the/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [The behavior and reactions of the oppressed, which lead the oppressor to practice cultural invasion, should evoke from the revolutionary a different theory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-behavior-and-reactions-of-the-oppressed-which-lead-the-oppressor/)

[Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/)

## More by John Greenleaf Whittier

> [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-joy-that-you-give-to-others-is-the-joy-that-comes-back-to-you/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [No lance have I, in joust or fight, To splinter in my lady's sight; But, at her feet, how blest were I For any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/no-lance-have-i-in-joust-or-fight-to-splinter-in-my-lady-s-sight-but/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/a-little-smile-a-word-of-cheer-a-bit-of-love-from-someone-near-a/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [On leaf of palm, on sedge-wrought roll; on plastic clay and leather scroll, man wrote his thoughts; the ages passed, and lo! the Press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/on-leaf-of-palm-on-sedge-wrought-roll-on-plastic-clay-and-leather/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [What does the good ship bear so well? The cocoa-nut with its stony shell, And the milky sap of its inner cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/what-does-the-good-ship-bear-so-well-the-cocoa-nut-with-its-stony/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [Love hath never known a law beyond its own sweet will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/love-hath-never-known-a-law-beyond-its-own-sweet-will/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [Leaning on Him, make with reverent meekness His own thy will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/leaning-on-him-make-with-reverent-meekness-his-own-thy-will/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [Sweeter than any sungMy songs that found no tongue;Nobler than any factMy wish that failed of act.Others shall sing the song,Others shall right the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/sweeter-than-any-sungmy-songs-that-found-no-tongue-nobler-than-any/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [The Present, the Present is all thou hast For thy sure possessing; Like the patriarch's angel hold it fast Till it gives its blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-present-the-present-is-all-thou-hast-for-thy-sure-possessing-like/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [They who wander widest lift No more of beauties' jealous veils, Than they who from their doorways see The miracle of flowers and trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/they-who-wander-widest-lift-no-more-of-beauties-jealous-veils-than/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [Once more the liberal year laughs out O'er richer stores than gems or gold: Once more with harvest song and shout Is nature's boldest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/once-more-the-liberal-year-laughs-out-o-er-richer-stores-than-gems-or/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [Quite the ugliest face I ever saw was that of a woman whom the world called beautiful. Through its silver veil the evil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/quite-the-ugliest-face-i-ever-saw-was-that-of-a-woman-whom-the-world/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [With smoking axle hot with speed, with steeds of fire and steam, Wide-waked To-day leaves Yesterday behind him like a dream. Still, from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/with-smoking-axle-hot-with-speed-with-steeds-of-fire-and-steam-wide/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [If woman lost us Eden, such As she alone restore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/if-woman-lost-us-eden-such-as-she-alone-restore-it/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

[Explore all 188 John Greenleaf Whittier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

## More Destiny quotes

> [... War on the destiny of man! Doom on the sun! Before death takes you, O take back this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-on-the-destiny-of-man-doom-on-the-sun-before-death-takes-you-o/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Anatomy is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/anatomy-is-destiny/)

[Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/)

> [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/)

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

> [ Man blindly works the will of fate. \[Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-martin-wieland/man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-blindlings-that-er-blos-den/)

[Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-martin-wieland/)

> [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [“It's morning now, and I miss the soft rasp of her voice already. Ugh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/it-s-morning-now-and-i-miss-the-soft-rasp-of-her-voice-already-ugh-i/)

[Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/)

> [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/)

[Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/)

> [“Failing to meet your true destiny is a tragic act of free will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/failing-to-meet-your-true-destiny-is-a-tragic-act-of-free-will/)

[Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/)

> [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/)

[Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/)

> [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [“Destiny is the ordained intention God has sacredly prepared with your name on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-lynch/destiny-is-the-ordained-intention-god-has-sacredly-prepared-with-your/)

[John S. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-lynch/)

> [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/)

[Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/)

> [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

[Browse all 7,925 Destiny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The laws of changeless justice bind oppressor and oppressed; and, close as sin and suffering joined we march to fate abreast.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Greenleaf Whittier"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppressor-and-oppressed-and-close/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Destiny"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppressor-and-oppressed-and-close/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_destiny_the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppr_3152044.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_destiny_the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppr_3152044.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_destiny_the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppr_3152044.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The laws of changeless justice bind oppressor and oppressed; and, close as sin and suffering joined we march…” — John Greenleaf Whittier",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Greenleaf Whittier",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The laws of changeless justice bind...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppressor-and-oppressed-and-close/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-laws-of-changeless-justice-bind-oppressor-and-oppressed-and-close/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
