--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's perfect justice: natures like yours…" description: "\"“It's perfect justice: natures like yours are hardest on themselves.”\" — Sophocles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/sophocles-370_justice_it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours_329118.png" --- # It's perfect justice: natures like yours are hardest on… ![“It's perfect justice: natures like yours are hardest on themselves.” quote by Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/sophocles-370_justice_it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours_329118.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/sophocles-370_justice_it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours_329118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/sophocles-370_justice_it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours_329118.png) > ““It's perfect justice: natures like yours are hardest on themselves.”” [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A harsh truth: those who are hardest on themselves suffer most. **In simple terms:** Self‑criticism can be painful. Key Takeaway Accept personal limits. Themes self‑criticism justice human nature Mood reflective somber Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health - relationships Key Concepts Greek tragedy self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑discipline with compassion? - When is self‑criticism constructive? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism may ignore external factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [Fine natures are like fine poems; a glance at the first two lines suffices for a guess into the beauty that waits you if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/fine-natures-are-like-fine-poems-a-glance-at-the-first-two-lines/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I never promised you a rose garden. I never promised you perfect justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-green/i-never-promised-you-a-rose-garden-i-never-promised-you-perfect/) Hannah Green > [“the democracy seems to have assumed the supreme power with perfect justice, since it had effected its own return by its own exertions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-democracy-seems-to-have-assumed-the-supreme-power-with-perfect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So Allah has to deny perfect justice in order to be merciful. There’s no penalty for wrongdoing if you have done enough good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gregory/so-allah-has-to-deny-perfect-justice-in-order-to-be-merciful-there-s/) [David Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gregory/) > [One day Jesus is going to come back and reign with perfect justice. There will be no questions about what's happened. There will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-lee/one-day-jesus-is-going-to-come-back-and-reign-with-perfect-justice/) [Trip Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-lee/) > [Because you can poke someone's eye out legally doesn't mean you should and that it's right. The Bible teaches us a more perfect justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/because-you-can-poke-someone-s-eye-out-legally-doesn-t-mean-you/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [The only thing that we have earned at the hands of perfect justice is perfect punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-only-thing-that-we-have-earned-at-the-hands-of-perfect-justice-is/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [For unbelievers, at the final judgment, there will not be one drop of mercy, only perfect justice-so much sin, so much wrath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-j-lawson/for-unbelievers-at-the-final-judgment-there-will-not-be-one-drop-of/) [Steven J Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-j-lawson/) > [Vengeance fixes your attention on life's ugliest moments. Is this where you want to look? Remember: God dispenses perfect justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/vengeance-fixes-your-attention-on-life-s-ugliest-moments-is-this/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“chosen to hold; and therefore they are of our own ordering; and therefore there is perfect justice in the universe. No suffering for another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/chosen-to-hold-and-therefore-they-are-of-our-own-ordering-and/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > ['Perfect justice rules the world' for the Powers that are superior to us know the whole life of the Soul and all its' former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iamblichus/perfect-justice-rules-the-world-for-the-powers-that-are-superior-to/) [Iamblichus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iamblichus/) > [It might seem like the hardest thing to do, but you have to forget the person who forgot about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-bianco/it-might-seem-like-the-hardest-thing-to-do-but-you-have-to-forget-the/) [Tanya Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-bianco/) > [It feels like I'm the hardest working kid in AMERICA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/it-feels-like-i-m-the-hardest-working-kid-in-america/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [I do feel like the hardest thing is to do something simple and tap into whatever remains of our common language rather than cultivating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/i-do-feel-like-the-hardest-thing-is-to-do-something-simple-and-tap/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) ## More by Sophocles > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [God's dice always have a lucky roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/god-s-dice-always-have-a-lucky-roll/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool's part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fool-cannot-be-an-actor-though-an-actor-may-act-a-fool-s-part/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/go-then-if-you-must-but-remember-no-matter-how-foolish-your-deeds/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Man's worst ill is stubbornness of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/man-s-worst-ill-is-stubbornness-of-heart/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A lie never lives to be old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-lie-never-lives-to-be-old/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [How dangerous can false reasoning prove!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/how-dangerous-can-false-reasoning-prove/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Why should man fear since chance is all in all for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing? Best to live lightly, as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/why-should-man-fear-since-chance-is-all-in-all-for-him-and-he-can/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“But life takes sudden twists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/but-life-takes-sudden-twists/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/when-ice-appears-out-of-doors-and-boys-seize-it-up-while-it-is-solid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [For God hates utterly the bray of bragging tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/for-god-hates-utterly-the-bray-of-bragging-tongues/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/i-have-nothing-but-contempt-for-the-kind-of-governor-who-is-afraid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Not from Hades' black and universal lake can you lift him. Not by groaning, not by prayers. Yet you run yourself out in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/not-from-hades-black-and-universal-lake-can-you-lift-him-not-by/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fearful man is always hearing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fearful-man-is-always-hearing-things/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [There is a point at which even justice does injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-is-a-point-at-which-even-justice-does-injury/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) [Explore all 621 Sophocles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## 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 > [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 > [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": "“It's perfect justice: natures like yours are hardest on themselves.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sophocles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours-are-hardest-on-themselves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Justice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours-are-hardest-on-themselves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/sophocles-370_justice_it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours_329118.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/sophocles-370_justice_it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours_329118.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/sophocles-370_justice_it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours_329118.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's perfect justice: natures like yours are hardest on themselves.” — Sophocles", "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": "Sophocles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It's perfect justice: natures like yours...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours-are-hardest-on-themselves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/it-s-perfect-justice-natures-like-yours-are-hardest-on-themselves/#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 } } ] } ```