Justice
‹ 4 · Outline · 6 ›
5.Desert, reward and equity
Plato, The Apology of SocratesVol. 2
- p. 24He estimates his penalty justly as a reward for benefaction.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 403–404Servants are judged and rewarded according to what they made of their trust; the wicked servant condemned by his own words.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 327Tullus's will praised as dictated by nature, justice and honour, repaying obligations to relatives and to his wife according to their good offices.read · scan
- p. 414–415Athletes' claim to rewards for earlier victories is weighed against what they had a right to when they won.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 899–902'Is the reward of goodness aught but goodness?'read · scan
Jean Froissart, The Chronicles of FroissartVol. 35
- p. 57Audley holds that faithful service deserves reward.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 310He protests that a commission earned by talent and labour has been filched by idle talk, and confronts the rival with his wrong.read · scan
- p. 311Cellini demands a fair competition of models before the king; God helps the right, and refusal makes them enemies.read · scan
- p. 420He hopes the Duchess will repent of the wrong done to the marble and to herself by unfairly denying him the commission.read · scan
- p. 426–427The marble goes to Ammanato while Cellini is ill, an unmerited award.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 374Fellowships go to those with most friends, not the best scholar; founders' statutes ignored.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 138Use every man after his desert and who should scape whipping? Bounty exceeds merit.read · scan
William Penn, More Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 382The world is rarely just enough to the deserving.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 218Louis's misfortune and indiscretion do not amount to guilt deserving cruelty.read · scan
Edmund Burke, A Letter to a Noble LordVol. 24
- p. 395Holds that scanty, penurious recognition of public service is a wrong and the worst economy.read · scan
- p. 397Rewarding meritorious service; the Duke of Bedford oppresses humble industry.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 318–319Minna protests that the king cannot reward all deserving men, and that the landlord ought not to have turned out the deserving officer.read · scan
5a.Distributive and commutative justice
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 129Odysseus divides the spoil fairly so none lacks a share.read · scan
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 54–55Fair distribution brings harmony.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 178Salius protests the foot race prize was wrongly given; Aeneas mends fortune's error by awarding compensation.read · scan
- p. 178Nisus claims a reward for his unlucky fall; the prince gives him a shield, expressing equal justice in his gifts.read · scan
Plutarch, CiceroVol. 12
- p. 234Caesar objects that those who rejected his mildest sentence should not receive the severest part of it, as unfair.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 317–318Buyers distinguished by degree felt obliged in proportion to their probity, rather than being treated identically.read · scan
Ambroise Paré, Journeys in Diverse PlacesVol. 38
- p. 28–29Stores in Metz are distributed by weight, measure and justice according to persons' quality.read · scan
Sir Francis Drake, Sir Francis Drake RevivedVol. 33
- p. 191–192Drake divides the treasure by weight into two equal portions between French and English.read · scan
- p. 194–195Drake puts Pedro's gift of the scimitar into the common venture, since all who bore the burden should share the benefit.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 373–375Learning's end is maintaining distributive justice, giving each his own.read · scan
Captain Walter Bigges, Drake's Great ArmadaVol. 33
- p. 248–249Officers give their share of the ransom to the poor men as fair reward for painful endeavour.read · scan
Thomas Hobbes, Of Man, Being the First Part of LeviathanVol. 34
- p. 369Worthiness differs from merit: merit presupposes a right and something due by promise, while worthiness is only fitness.read · scan
- p. 396Performing first merits what is due; winning a prize merits it as due.read · scan
- p. 406Distinguishes commutative justice of contractors from distributive justice of an arbitrator, rejecting the arithmetical and geometrical proportion doctrine.read · scan
- p. 409–410Equity is equal distribution of what belongs to each; partiality in judgment or acception of persons violates it.read · scan
John Winthrop, Arbitrary Government Described and the Government of the Massachusetts Vindicated from That AspersionVol. 43
- p. 91–92Distributive and vindictive justice may be trusted to judges without prescribed rule, as juries already do; man must proceed by commission.read · scan
- p. 96If God requires perfect commutative justice, men cannot dispense distributive justice by guessing a fixed measure for uncertain merit.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 357–358Impartial provision for children and discreet, fitting bequests.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 329Keeps geometrical proportion in distributive and commutative justice, following the golden rule.read · scan
Sir Henry Vane, A Healing QuestionVol. 43
- p. 127–128The whole body, having borne the war's cost, ought equally to share the conquest's benefit; unrighteous dealing with brethren will not escape divine Judge.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 7Distributive justice to the deserving named as a chief royal virtue.read · scan
- p. 61–65Ventidius argues justice and pity plead for Octavia, not Cleopatra, since merits are unequal.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 309Justice and policy are said to entitle riches to a larger share in public affairs.read · scan
- p. 311Local preference on account of contribution is contrary to equity in a country whose districts are members of a whole.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 236–237Bread distributed justly in proportion to number of mouths, so the poor are not deprived by gluttons.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 157The king says that if justice be done the kingdom belongs to the youngest, who alone did the task honestly.read · scan
- p. 201The false mother and false bride are made to depart while the faithful maiden is rewarded.read · scan
- p. 210The tree yields only to Two-eyes, the wronged girl, and not to her grasping kin.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Man the ReformerVol. 5
- p. 56–57Equitable rule is that no one should take more than his share.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 143Division of produce to be made by concert on an acknowledged principle of justice.read · scan
5b.Equity tempering rigid law
See also: Law 9a
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 65A criminal judge should meet a crime's discovery with pity, not exultation, since the people have been led astray.read · scan
Herodotus, An Account of EgyptVol. 33
- p. 75–76The twelve kings rule justly and spare Psammetichos since he acted without forethought, though they strip his power.read · scan
Marcus Tullius Cicero, Letters of CiceroVol. 9
- p. 141He is rescinding Appius's inequitable appointments and decisions.read · scan
Plutarch, AristidesVol. 12
- p. 89–91Aristides tempers his justice with public convenience, punishing only a few conspirators and giving the rest a chance to repent.read · scan
Plutarch, CoriolanusVol. 12
- p. 183–184Better people would judge according to equity, but conspirators murder him first.read · scan
Plutarch, CaesarVol. 12
- p. 290Caesar's proposal that both he and Pompey disarm has fair equity; disarming only him would establish the other in tyranny.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 261He offers to add to Curianus's share so the man suffers no loss, after adjudicating the will fairly.read · scan
- p. 266–272Honoring the testator's express wishes over the strict law.read · scan
- p. 317Pliny remits part of the vintage price by strict equity, distinguishing buyers by what they had advanced and paid.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 15–16Merchant pleads the killing was unintentional and asks pardon; the Jinni insists on death regardless.read · scan
- p. 24The Jinni, having heard all three tales, remits his claim to the merchant's blood.read · scan
- p. 99Ja'far's account wins the mistress's leniency and she frees them all.read · scan
- p. 100Ja'far pardons the ladies for prior kindness and demands the truth before the Khalifeh.read · scan
The Song of RolandVol. 49
- p. 189–190Barons urge clemency for Ganelon since Roland cannot be restored; Thierry insists on judgment for treason.read · scan
William Roper, The Life of Sir Thomas MoreVol. 36
- p. 103Equity tempers rigid law to relieve the people's injury.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 49–51Doubtful books are sentenced to mercy or justice according to correction.read · scan
John Winthrop, Arbitrary Government Described and the Government of the Massachusetts Vindicated from That AspersionVol. 43
- p. 93–94Judges must temper justice with mercy according to person and public good.read · scan
- p. 98A judge with the person before him judges better than a lawmaker; Saul's decree would have differed in Jonathan's case.read · scan
- p. 102–103Judges as God's vicegerents may show God's mercy as well as justice in special cases.read · scan
- p. 103Judging Mephibosheth unheard or executing Jonathan would be unjust examples; God tempers law with mercy.read · scan
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Life Is a DreamVol. 26
- p. 45The King says his purpose was to disprove the stars by justice, mercy and kindness.read · scan
- p. 71–73Segismund vows justice, mercy and self-control as ruler; he reunites Rosaura's claim and settles Astolfo's marriage.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 205Its perfection includes equity.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 84Dolabella argues mercy limits justice; Antony fears his justice and revenge will drown pity.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 327Only those with a heart to help have a right to censure; else cruelty, not justice.read · scan
- p. 335Saying 'both are to blame' involves the injured with the guilty, covering injustice.read · scan
Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NationsVol. 10
- p. 352Equitable regard for the manufacturer's interest requires changes be introduced slowly and after long warning.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 268Equity and Mercy might be veiled for a moment when morality suspends its rules in favour of its principles.read · scan
- p. 278–279In common equity present clergy should not bear the crimes of predecessors.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 443–444Furst asks that justice yield to mercy; Rosselmann reminds Gessler of the God to whom he must account.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 66–67The husband pleads that mercy take the place of justice when the enchantress catches him stealing.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 156–157True throne is founded on the rock of Justice and left only by steps of mercy.read · scan
5c.Inequality of fortune and the claims of the poor
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 114–115Job recalls delivering the poor, fatherless and widow, wearing righteousness as a robe, and breaking the jaws of the unrighteous.read · scan
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 524Principle of equality: abundance supplies others' want, as with manna, none had too much or too little.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 885Respect owed to the poor seeker regardless of rank.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 215–216The Khalifeh praises Ibrahim as a just man who attends to the poor and the indigent.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 165Justice cannot flourish where goods pass to evil men and a few hold all while the rest live wretchedly.read · scan
- p. 165No equal and just distribution is possible while property is private; the poor are often more deserving than the covetous rich.read · scan
- p. 232–236Challenges any nation's justice to compare with Utopian equity; care even for the aged laborers.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 232Harrison laments the grievous inconvenience of the rich devouring poor men's holdings without care.read · scan
- p. 247–248Farmers indifferent to the poor's suffering so long as they fill their purses.read · scan
- p. 279Denounces landlords who keep prices high for private gain at the ruin of the commonwealth and the poor.read · scan
- p. 317Commons given for the poor are defrauded, landlords taking the gain instead of poor tenants.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 267–269Lear realizes he neglected the poor; pomp should expose itself to feel what wretches feel and shake the superflux to them.read · scan
- p. 281–283Gloucester calls on the heavens to make the superfluous feel, so that each man has enough.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written at Horton, 1632-1638Vol. 4
- p. 62–66Unequal distribution of nature's goods is condemned; proportion would relieve the deserving poor.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 381–382Injustice lies in giving natural respect to rank or demanding rank's respect for natural greatness, as in the geometrician example.read · scan
William Penn, More Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 390Hoarding all to oneself is great injustice.read · scan
- p. 394Misusing rank and wealth is an injustice to those entitled to care.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, A Discourse upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality among MankindVol. 34
- p. 211Challenges the right to appropriate more than subsistence without mankind's consent.read · scan
- p. 228Moral inequality not matching physical inequality clashes with natural right; a few glut in superfluity while the multitude lack necessities.read · scan
Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NationsVol. 10
- p. 80Equity requires that those who feed, clothe and lodge the people share enough of their product to be well provided.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 509Injustice in the rich dividing the fenceless fields and denying even the common to the poor.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 306–307Requiring the poor to buy their natural right is unjust, leaving the man with only natural equality unprotected.read · scan
- p. 313–314Calls the inequality between mass and mass fantastical and unjust, rights inversely proportioned to possession.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 81Cristoforo begs Don Rodrigo for an act of justice and mercy for two oppressed innocents.read · scan
- p. 83Cristoforo supplicates an act of justice and mercy to relieve the wronged innocents.read · scan
- p. 83–84Cristoforo pleads for an act of justice due to the poor.read · scan
- p. 204–205Speakers demand 'full justice' for the poor amid the tumult.read · scan
- p. 216–217The crowd now demands bread and justice, prison for the vicar, as Ferrer promises punishment.read · scan
- p. 220–221Ferrer cries 'Bread and justice' to the crowd from the carriage step, like an orator from a rostrum.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, CompensationVol. 5
- p. 101Inequality of condition seems a great injustice until seen closely and reconciled by love.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, PoliticsVol. 5
- p. 241Spartan principle of calling that which is just equal is doubted as the rich encroach on the poor.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 421Endowments meant for poor youths are misspent through favoritism and sinecures.read · scan
- p. 461C. curses the priest who misuses the charity endowment meant for the poor.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 141–143Inequality of birth to riches and poverty is an injustice, whether or not fully remediable.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 242–243The captain callously refuses aid to a Kanaka who worked for years for the owners.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 124Poor-rate dispensers should be the nation's almoners, giving alms generously; Isaiah's demand to feed the hungry rebukes the view that outcasts deserve only affliction.read · scan
- p. 158–159Guilt for injustice and misery lies with women who fail to relieve it.read · scan
James Russell Lowell, DemocracyVol. 28
- p. 463–464Poverty pays with its person the chief costs of war, pestilence and famine, so property deserves no exceptional consideration.read · scan
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