--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is to be preferred before justice." description: "\"Nothing is to be preferred before justice.\" — Socrates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/socrates-405_justice_nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justic_1509223.jpg" --- # Nothing is to be preferred before justice. ![“Nothing is to be preferred before justice.” quote by Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/socrates-405_justice_nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justic_1509223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/socrates-405_justice_nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justic_1509223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/socrates-405_justice_nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justic_1509223.jpg) > “Nothing is to be preferred before justice.” [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justice should not be compromised for any preference; it stands above all other considerations. **In simple terms:** Justice outweighs all preferences. Key Takeaway Prioritize justice. Themes ethics justice philosophy Mood serious reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - legal decisions - policy making Key Concepts moral theory political thought Questions to Reflect On - When is it okay to break a law? - How do we balance justice and compassion? A Different Perspective Justice can conflict with personal desires. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Preferred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preferred/) [Preferred Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preferred-justice-5552291/) ## Related quotes > [I wasn't into jazz so much - I preferred things raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-wasn-t-into-jazz-so-much-i-preferred-things-raw/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [President Lyndon Johnson was very, very unpredictable. We never knew for sure what he is going to do next, and he preferred to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-hill/president-lyndon-johnson-was-very-very-unpredictable-we-never-knew/) [Clint Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-hill/) > [“ignorance is never to be preferred over knowledge. No”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/ignorance-is-never-to-be-preferred-over-knowledge-no/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [I enjoyed your article, but I preferred my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-enjoyed-your-article-but-i-preferred-my-own/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [I much preferred the approach at the anarchist camp, with its shared tasks and collective responsibilities. Everyone played their part. There was no division…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-blair/i-much-preferred-the-approach-at-the-anarchist-camp-with-its-shared/) [John Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-blair/) > [I would've preferred to blossom earlier in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-would-ve-preferred-to-blossom-earlier-in-life/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [New York has arguably become the quintessential 1 percent city, a city that has been so given over to the rich that you now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/new-york-has-arguably-become-the-quintessential-1-percent-city-a-city/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [There's a certain kind of motion and pacing that our music has, and this just doesn't have that. We just kind of rushed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branford-marsalis/there-s-a-certain-kind-of-motion-and-pacing-that-our-music-has-and/) [Branford Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branford-marsalis/) > [I preferred to study those subjects that were of interest to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-emeagwali/i-preferred-to-study-those-subjects-that-were-of-interest-to-me/) [Philip Emeagwali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-emeagwali/) > [Trent likes to record guitars direct, whereas I've always preferred playing through an amplifier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-berkowitz/trent-likes-to-record-guitars-direct-whereas-i-ve-always-preferred/) [Daisy Berkowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-berkowitz/) > [I preferred MTV as it used to be when it was about the music - I don't like it that now they just have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-may-jagger/i-preferred-mtv-as-it-used-to-be-when-it-was-about-the-music-i-don-t/) [Georgia May Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-may-jagger/) > [The Left have always preferred the state to the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hitchens/the-left-have-always-preferred-the-state-to-the-family/) [Peter Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hitchens/) > [You preferred to be a lunatic, a minority of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/you-preferred-to-be-a-lunatic-a-minority-of-one/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I would have preferred to have been born in any other time than our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/i-would-have-preferred-to-have-been-born-in-any-other-time-than-our/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [Somebody Preferred You because of your behavior, Not because of your ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/somebody-preferred-you-because-of-your-behavior-not-because-of-your/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) ## More by Socrates > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/falling-down-is-not-a-failure-failure-comes-when-you-stay-where-you/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Do not go through life like leaf blown from here to there believing whatever you are told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/do-not-go-through-life-like-leaf-blown-from-here-to-there-believing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If the whole world depends on today's youth, I can't see the world lasting another 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-the-whole-world-depends-on-today-s-youth-i-can-t-see-the-world/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“I only know, I know nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-only-know-i-know-nothing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-cannot-teach-anybody-anything-i-can-only-make-them-think/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Marry a good woman, and be happy the rest of your life. Or, marry a bad, and become a good philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/marry-a-good-woman-and-be-happy-the-rest-of-your-life-or-marry-a-bad/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“For the fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unknown; and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/for-the-fear-of-death-is-indeed-the-pretense-of-wisdom-and-not-real/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [There is no difference between knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/there-is-no-difference-between-knowledge-and-temperance-for-he-who/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Besides, it is a shame to let yourself grow old through neglect before seeing how you can develop the maximum beauty and strength of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/besides-it-is-a-shame-to-let-yourself-grow-old-through-neglect-before/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The greatest blessing granted to mankind come by way of madness, which is a divine gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-greatest-blessing-granted-to-mankind-come-by-way-of-madness-which/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I desire only to know the truth, and to live as well as I can...And, to the utmost of my power, I exhort all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-desire-only-to-know-the-truth-and-to-live-as-well-as-i-can-and-to/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [So you would rather suffer an injustice than do an injustice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/so-you-would-rather-suffer-an-injustice-than-do-an-injustice/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The end of life is to be like unto God; and the soul following God, will be like unto Him; He being the beginning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-end-of-life-is-to-be-like-unto-god-and-the-soul-following-god/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) [Explore all 579 Socrates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## More Justice quotes > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/) [Joseph Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-anderson/) > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) [Donald P. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-p-ryan/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [There is no freedom without justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/there-is-no-freedom-without-justice/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) [Browse all 13,527 Justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing is to be preferred before justice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Socrates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Justice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/socrates-405_justice_nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justic_1509223.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/socrates-405_justice_nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justic_1509223.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/socrates-405_justice_nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justic_1509223.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing is to be preferred before justice.” — Socrates", "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": "Socrates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing is to be preferred before...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/nothing-is-to-be-preferred-before-justice/#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 } } ] } ```