--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A scheme is unjust when the higher…" description: "\"A scheme is unjust when the higher expectations, one or more of them, are excessive. If these expectations were decreased, the situation of the less fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-rawls-7786_expectations_a-scheme-is-unjust-when-the-higher-expec_2434242.jpg" --- # A scheme is unjust when the higher expectations, one or… ![“A scheme is unjust when the higher expectations, one or more of them, are excessive. If these expectations were decreased, the situation of the less favored would be improved.” quote by John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-rawls-7786_expectations_a-scheme-is-unjust-when-the-higher-expec_2434242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-rawls-7786_expectations_a-scheme-is-unjust-when-the-higher-expec_2434242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/john-rawls-7786_expectations_a-scheme-is-unjust-when-the-higher-expec_2434242.jpg) > “A scheme is unjust when the higher expectations, one or more of them, are excessive. If these expectations were decreased, the situation of the less favored would be improved.” [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. Justice fails when expectations are unrealistically high for the privileged, harming the less advantaged. **In simple terms:** Excessive expectations harm fairness. Key Takeaway Moderate expectations for equity. Themes justice equality fairness Mood analytical critical Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - policy design - education - social welfare Key Concepts political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can expectations be balanced? - What policies reduce excess? A Different Perspective High expectations can be unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Higher Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-expectations/) [Schemes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemes/) ## Related quotes > [“Do not enter where too much is anticipated. It is the misfortune of the over-celebrated that they cannot measure up to excessive expectations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/do-not-enter-where-too-much-is-anticipated-it-is-the-misfortune-of/) [Baltasar Gracián](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Political populism always poses a great danger because it disorients people, creates excessive expectations or, on the contrary, prioritises objectives that are clearly not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/political-populism-always-poses-a-great-danger-because-it-disorients/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [You can NEVER rise higher than your expectations of yourself. Expect the BEST!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/you-can-never-rise-higher-than-your-expectations-of-yourself-expect/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I get higher than expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-get-higher-than-expectations/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“All these much-celebrated choices that we have, apparently, us modern women. There are no choices, only higher expectations. Except”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-furniss/all-these-much-celebrated-choices-that-we-have-apparently-us-modern/) [Jo Furniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-furniss/) > [There's probably more of a struggle to get material and narratives published that really speak to black culture. And that has a lot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/there-s-probably-more-of-a-struggle-to-get-material-and-narratives/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [This is UCLA. The expectations are higher here than anywhere. The amount of success both in terms of championships and wins as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howland/this-is-ucla-the-expectations-are-higher-here-than-anywhere-the/) [Ben Howland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howland/) > [No one puts higher expectations on themselves than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/no-one-puts-higher-expectations-on-themselves-than-i-do/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [The days that I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, I have really good days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-wylie-hubbard/the-days-that-i-keep-my-gratitude-higher-than-my-expectations-i-have/) [Ray Wylie Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-wylie-hubbard/) > [At the end of the day, nobody has higher expectations for me than myself. I don't really try to prove anyone wrong anymore as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mccaffrey/at-the-end-of-the-day-nobody-has-higher-expectations-for-me-than/) [Christian McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mccaffrey/) > [Great teachers have high expectations for their students, but higher expectations for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-whitaker/great-teachers-have-high-expectations-for-their-students-but-higher/) Todd Whitaker > [“Many black and poor people, moreover, had become politicized by the civil rights movement and had begun to develop higher expectations from life. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/many-black-and-poor-people-moreover-had-become-politicized-by-the/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [There is no one with higher expectations of me than myself. I cannot control other's expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasper-schmeichel/there-is-no-one-with-higher-expectations-of-me-than-myself-i-cannot/) [Kasper Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasper-schmeichel/) > [“Numbers of men are getting richer and greater numbers are getting poorer. Alas, both classes have higher expectations these days. In Short, sir, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/numbers-of-men-are-getting-richer-and-greater-numbers-are-getting/) [Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/) > [The first major issue you need to consider when focusing on today's workers: You have to know what motivates them. If you think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-rottenberg/the-first-major-issue-you-need-to-consider-when-focusing-on-today-s/) [Linda Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-rottenberg/) ## 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 Expectations quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I say this all the time: I've always been really good at managing my expectations so that I'm not let down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/i-say-this-all-the-time-i-ve-always-been-really-good-at-managing-my/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Keeping up with everybody's expectation is soooo hard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi/keeping-up-with-everybody-s-expectation-is-soooo-hard/) [Naomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We're wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it actually is. And when we realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/we-re-wired-to-expect-the-world-to-be-brighter-and-more-meaningful/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [“Does your reality match your expectations? If not it's time to change either your expectations or your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/does-your-reality-match-your-expectations-if-not-it-s-time-to-change/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Jesus' kingdom was not like the popular expectation. He used the phrase 'kingdom of God' with a different meaning. His kingdom was not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/jesus-kingdom-was-not-like-the-popular-expectation-he-used-the-phrase/) [Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [It's a good place when all you have is hope and not expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-boyle/it-s-a-good-place-when-all-you-have-is-hope-and-not-expectations/) [Danny Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-boyle/) > [When we give from a place of love, rather than from a place of expectation, more usually comes back to us than we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/when-we-give-from-a-place-of-love-rather-than-from-a-place-of/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Everybody out there watches the show and has expectations of wanting to be an 'Idol', but we're going to teach them how much hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bice/everybody-out-there-watches-the-show-and-has-expectations-of-wanting/) [Bo Bice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bice/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) [Browse all 4,210 Expectations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A scheme is unjust when the higher expectations, one or more of them, are excessive. 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