Injustice Quote by Plato
![“[W]hen men have both done and suffered injustice and have had experience of both, not being able to avoid the one and obtain the other, they think that they had better agree among themselves to have neither; hence there arise laws and mutual covenants; and that which is ordained by law is termed…” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af0/plato-103_injustice_w-hen-men-have-both-done-and-suffered-in_706980.jpg)
““[W]hen men have both done and suffered injustice and have had experience of both, not being able to avoid the one and obtain the other, they think that they had better agree among themselves to have neither; hence there arise laws and mutual covenants; and that which is ordained by law is termed by them lawful and just. This they affirm to be the origin and nature of justice;—it is a mean or compromise, between the best of all, which is to do injustice and not be punished, and the worst of all, which is to suffer injustice without the power of retaliation; and justice, being at a middle point between the two, is tolerated not as a good, but as the lesser evil…””
About This Quote
Source Book: Republic, Book I, Plato, c. 380 BC
Justice is seen as a compromise between seeking personal advantage without punishment and suffering injustice without recourse, making it a lesser evil rather than a true good.
In simple terms: Justice is a middle ground between harming others and being harmed.
Key Takeaway
Accept compromise, but seek fairness beyond mere compromise.
Themes
justice
ethics
political philosophy
human nature
law
compromise
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
analytical
ethical
When to use this quote
- government formation
- legal systems
- conflict resolution
- personal ethics
- societal norms
Key Concepts
social contract
moral relativism
ethical theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a society thrive on compromise alone?
- What alternatives exist to a compromise view of justice?
A Different Perspective
Justice as compromise may ignore higher ideals of fairness and equality.
