---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A just system must generate its own…"
description: "\"A just system must generate its own support.\" — John Rawls"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/john-rawls-7786_generate_a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-supp_2634029.jpg"
---

#  A just system must generate its own support.

![“A just system must generate its own support.” quote by John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/john-rawls-7786_generate_a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-supp_2634029.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/john-rawls-7786_generate_a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-supp_2634029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/john-rawls-7786_generate_a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-supp_2634029.jpg)

> “A just system must generate its own support.”

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

## About This Quote

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

A just society must create the conditions that allow its own support and maintenance.

**In simple terms:** Justice requires self‑sustaining systems.

Key Takeaway

Build structures that uphold themselves.

Themes

justice society self‑sustainability

Mood

analytical critical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- public policy
- community building
- institutional design

Key Concepts

political philosophy social contract

Questions to Reflect On

- What mechanisms ensure societal self‑support?
- How can we protect these systems from collapse?

A Different Perspective

Self‑sustaining systems can be vulnerable to external shocks.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Generate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generate/) [Generate Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generate-support-2214402/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just Generate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-generate-2214403/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/)

## Related quotes

> [I generate a lot of good vibrations, good energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-kreischer/i-generate-a-lot-of-good-vibrations-good-energy/)

[Bert Kreischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-kreischer/)

> [Even if major funding is obtained for cold fusion, conceivably the phenomenon could suffer from problems as intractable as those of hot fusion. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-platt/even-if-major-funding-is-obtained-for-cold-fusion-conceivably-the/)

[Charles Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-platt/)

> [Lawmakers have good reason to want a healthy broadcast industry. Broadcast TV stations provide more than 186,000 jobs on an annual basis, which directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/lawmakers-have-good-reason-to-want-a-healthy-broadcast-industry/)

[Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/)

> [The basis of the free market is anytime you can generate revenue or profit, you've created value in excess of the resources you consume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-saylor/the-basis-of-the-free-market-is-anytime-you-can-generate-revenue-or/)

[Michael J. Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-saylor/)

> [Getting a traditional pharmaceutical to the market can cost a billion dollars or more. Newer, more tailored and targeted drugs called biologics are even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mixner/getting-a-traditional-pharmaceutical-to-the-market-can-cost-a-billion/)

[David Mixner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mixner/)

> [We felt it was very important for an entity like CCTV to make its presence felt... To generate a space and to define a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/we-felt-it-was-very-important-for-an-entity-like-cctv-to-make-its/)

[Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/)

> [I often use hypothetical situations to generate information and imagery for paintings and to create a fictional space where a subject can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-schutz/i-often-use-hypothetical-situations-to-generate-information-and/)

[Dana Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-schutz/)

> [If I can generate enough income, I'd like to get a castle, a historic castle that I can restore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas/if-i-can-generate-enough-income-i-d-like-to-get-a-castle-a-historic/)

[Henry Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas/)

> [My goal is to generate more material for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/my-goal-is-to-generate-more-material-for-myself/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

> [Cities generate most of the global economy, and most of its energy use, resource demands and climate emissions. How we build cities over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/cities-generate-most-of-the-global-economy-and-most-of-its-energy-use/)

[Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/)

> [“It is hard to get comments on videos, I would say every 100-1,000 views may generate a comment. It depends on the video and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-hard-to-get-comments-on-videos-i-would-say-every-100-1-000/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [I'm trying to make perfect moments. And those generate meaning. If you go deep enough in how to make a moment, very quickly you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-m-trying-to-make-perfect-moments-and-those-generate-meaning-if-you/)

[Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/)

> [Industrialisation only can generate large-scale employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-chandrababu-naidu/industrialisation-only-can-generate-large-scale-employment/)

[N. Chandrababu Naidu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-chandrababu-naidu/)

> [I am very focused on large-scale deployments of renewable power and how we're going to get this done. Imagine our military bases covered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/i-am-very-focused-on-large-scale-deployments-of-renewable-power-and/)

[William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/)

> [This dilettante notion that the global economy is evil because big corporate leaders make too much money... they do make too much money, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/this-dilettante-notion-that-the-global-economy-is-evil-because-big/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

## More by John Rawls

> [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [First of all, principles should be general. That is, it must be possible to formulate them without use of what would be intuitively recognized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/first-of-all-principles-should-be-general-that-is-it-must-be-possible/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [Intuitionism is not constructive, perfectionism is unacceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/intuitionism-is-not-constructive-perfectionism-is-unacceptable/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [A political conception just applies to the basic structure of a society, its institutions, constitutional essentials, matters of basic justice and property, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/a-political-conception-just-applies-to-the-basic-structure-of-a/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [If you compare the United States with Europe, my view is that what happened in Europe is that the church became deeply distrusted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/if-you-compare-the-united-states-with-europe-my-view-is-that-what/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [Political philosophy is realistically utopian when it extends what are ordinarily thought to be the limits of practicable political possibility and, in so doing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/political-philosophy-is-realistically-utopian-when-it-extends-what/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [The intolerant can be viewed as free-riders, as persons who seek the advantages of just institutions while not doing their share to uphold them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/the-intolerant-can-be-viewed-as-free-riders-as-persons-who-seek-the/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [Of course, we know that not everyone agrees with assisted suicide, but people might agree that one has the right to it, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/of-course-we-know-that-not-everyone-agrees-with-assisted-suicide-but/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [When the basic structure of society is publicly known to satisfy its principles for an extended period of time, those subject to these arrangements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/when-the-basic-structure-of-society-is-publicly-known-to-satisfy-its/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [“Luther and Calvin were as dogmatic and intolerant as the Church had been. For those who had to decide whether to become Protestant or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/luther-and-calvin-were-as-dogmatic-and-intolerant-as-the-church-had/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [We may suppose that everyone has in himself the whole form of a moral conception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/we-may-suppose-that-everyone-has-in-himself-the-whole-form-of-a-moral/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [Citizens can have their own grounding in their comprehensive doctrines, whatever they happen to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/citizens-can-have-their-own-grounding-in-their-comprehensive/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [There is a divergence between private and social accounting that the market fails to register. One essential task of law and government is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/there-is-a-divergence-between-private-and-social-accounting-that-the/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [Many of our most serious conflicts are conflicts within ourselves. Those who suppose their judgements are always consistent are unreflective or dogmatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/many-of-our-most-serious-conflicts-are-conflicts-within-ourselves/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [The idea of public reason isn't about the right answers to all these questions, but about the kinds of reasons that they ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/the-idea-of-public-reason-isn-t-about-the-right-answers-to-all-these/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

[Explore all 87 John Rawls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

## More Generate quotes

> [I generate a lot of good vibrations, good energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-kreischer/i-generate-a-lot-of-good-vibrations-good-energy/)

[Bert Kreischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-kreischer/)

> [I am very focused on large-scale deployments of renewable power and how we're going to get this done. Imagine our military bases covered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/i-am-very-focused-on-large-scale-deployments-of-renewable-power-and/)

[William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/)

> [Industrialisation only can generate large-scale employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-chandrababu-naidu/industrialisation-only-can-generate-large-scale-employment/)

[N. Chandrababu Naidu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-chandrababu-naidu/)

> [I'm trying to make perfect moments. And those generate meaning. If you go deep enough in how to make a moment, very quickly you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-m-trying-to-make-perfect-moments-and-those-generate-meaning-if-you/)

[Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/)

> [“It is hard to get comments on videos, I would say every 100-1,000 views may generate a comment. It depends on the video and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-hard-to-get-comments-on-videos-i-would-say-every-100-1-000/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [Cities generate most of the global economy, and most of its energy use, resource demands and climate emissions. How we build cities over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/cities-generate-most-of-the-global-economy-and-most-of-its-energy-use/)

[Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/)

> [My goal is to generate more material for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/my-goal-is-to-generate-more-material-for-myself/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

> [If I can generate enough income, I'd like to get a castle, a historic castle that I can restore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas/if-i-can-generate-enough-income-i-d-like-to-get-a-castle-a-historic/)

[Henry Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas/)

> [I often use hypothetical situations to generate information and imagery for paintings and to create a fictional space where a subject can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-schutz/i-often-use-hypothetical-situations-to-generate-information-and/)

[Dana Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-schutz/)

> [We felt it was very important for an entity like CCTV to make its presence felt... To generate a space and to define a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/we-felt-it-was-very-important-for-an-entity-like-cctv-to-make-its/)

[Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/)

> [Getting a traditional pharmaceutical to the market can cost a billion dollars or more. Newer, more tailored and targeted drugs called biologics are even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mixner/getting-a-traditional-pharmaceutical-to-the-market-can-cost-a-billion/)

[David Mixner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mixner/)

> [The basis of the free market is anytime you can generate revenue or profit, you've created value in excess of the resources you consume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-saylor/the-basis-of-the-free-market-is-anytime-you-can-generate-revenue-or/)

[Michael J. Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-saylor/)

> [Lawmakers have good reason to want a healthy broadcast industry. Broadcast TV stations provide more than 186,000 jobs on an annual basis, which directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-smith/lawmakers-have-good-reason-to-want-a-healthy-broadcast-industry/)

[Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-smith/)

> [Even if major funding is obtained for cold fusion, conceivably the phenomenon could suffer from problems as intractable as those of hot fusion. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-platt/even-if-major-funding-is-obtained-for-cold-fusion-conceivably-the/)

[Charles Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-platt/)

> [This dilettante notion that the global economy is evil because big corporate leaders make too much money... they do make too much money, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/this-dilettante-notion-that-the-global-economy-is-evil-because-big/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

[Browse all 79 Generate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generate/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A just system must generate its own support.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Rawls"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-support/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Generate"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-support/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/john-rawls-7786_generate_a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-supp_2634029.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/john-rawls-7786_generate_a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-supp_2634029.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/john-rawls-7786_generate_a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-supp_2634029.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A just system must generate its own support.” — John Rawls",
                "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 Rawls",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A just system must generate its...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-support/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/a-just-system-must-generate-its-own-support/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
