Being free Quote by Joseph Story
“Without justice being freely, fully, and impartially administered, neither our persons, nor our rights, nor our property, can be protected. And if these, or either of them, are regulated by no certain laws, and are subject to no certain principles, and are held by no certain tenure, and are redressed, when violated, by no certain remedies, society fails of all its value; and men may as well return to a state of savage and barbarous independence.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, 1833
Justice must be administered freely, fully, and impartially; otherwise rights and property lack protection and society collapses into chaos.
In simple terms: Justice must be fair or society fails.
Key Takeaway
Ensure impartial legal systems.
Themes
law
justice
society
rights
property
Mood
serious
concerned
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtrooms
- legislative bodies
- civil rights enforcement
- property disputes
- public policy
Key Concepts
Rule of law
civil rights
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we guarantee impartial enforcement?
- What safeguards protect against legal bias?
A Different Perspective
Even with fair laws, enforcement may be uneven, undermining justice.
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