Desire Quote by John Rawls
“Properly understood, then, the desire to act justly derives in part from the desire to express most fully what we are or can be, namely free and equal rational beings with the liberty to choose.”
About This Quote
Source Book: A Theory of Justice, John Rawls, 1971
Justice stems from our wish to realize our rational, equal nature, exercising liberty to choose freely.
In simple terms: Fairness comes from wanting to be free, equal, rational beings.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and honor each person's rational agency.
Themes
justice
freedom
equality
agency
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal decisions
- policy making
- educational curricula
- community governance
Key Concepts
social contract
political philosophy
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance individual liberty with collective responsibility?
- Can rational equality be truly achieved?
A Different Perspective
Assumes universal agreement on rationality, which may not hold across cultures.
![“Beyond [known peoples of black West Africa] to the south there is no civilization in the proper sense. There are only humans who are closer to dumb animals than to rational beings. They live in thickets and caves, and eat herbs and unprepared grain. They frequently eat each other. They cannot be…” quote by Ibn Khaldun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/52a/ibn-khaldun-24349_animal_beyond-known-peoples-of-black-west-afric_687710.jpg)
![“"Akrasia" [weakness of will] in rational beings is as common as wine in France.” quote by John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/65d/john-searle-17370_common_akrasia-weakness-of-will-in-rational-bei_976532.jpg)
![“...[M]an and generally any rational being exists as an end in himself, not merely as a means to be arbitrarily used by this or that will, but in all his actions, whether they concern himself or other rational beings, must always be regarded at the same time as an end... [R]ational beings... are…” quote by Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ff/immanuel-kant-532_freedom_m-an-and-generally-any-rational-being-ex_892667.jpg)
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
