Different Quote by William Shawcross
“You cannot do justice to the dead. When we talk about doing justice to the dead we are talking about retribution for the harm done to them. But retribution and justice are two different things.”
About This Quote
Source Book: A Quest for Justice by William Shawcross, 1990
Justice for the dead differs from retribution; the former seeks acknowledgment, the latter seeks punishment.
In simple terms: Justice honors memory; retribution punishes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the dead’s dignity beyond vengeance.
Themes
ethics
memory
justice
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- memorial services
- legal reforms
- historical truth‑seeking
Key Concepts
retribution
recognition
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies honor victims without seeking revenge?
- What forms of restitution respect the dead?
A Different Perspective
Justice alone may not heal all wounds.
![“There is no justice, there is no rational structure to it [life]. That is just the way it is, and each person figures out some way to cope.” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5bf/woody-allen-176_figures_there-is-no-justice-there-is-no-rational_384794.jpg)
![“The important point was that whatever errors America had made [in Vietnam] "we are so powerful [according to Secretary Kissinger] that Hanoi is simply unable to defeat us militarily" and must therefore eventually be forced to compromise.” quote by William Shawcross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c34/william-shawcross-46263_america_the-important-point-was-that-whatever-er_553437.jpg)
![“Together they [President Nixon and Secretary Kissinger] pursued ends that frequently had a tenuous link with reality, using means that were not merely disproportionate but counterproductive and untrue to those values they were meant to defend. In fact neither man demonstrated much faith in those…” quote by William Shawcross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b5/william-shawcross-46263_counterproductive_together-they-president-nixon-and-secret_1998765.jpg)
