John Rawls

"The worth of equal political liberty lies in its guarantee of respect and influence."

"The primary good that a society can distribute is the basic structure itself, the major social, political, and economic institutions and how they fit together into one unified system."

"Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override."

"A just society must arrange inequalities so that they benefit the least advantaged members."

"Fair equality of opportunity means that positions must be open to all under conditions of fair competition."

"The original position is a device of representation that models what we regard as fair conditions for arriving at fundamental agreements."

"Justice as fairness rests on the idea that the principles of justice are what free and equal persons would agree to under fair conditions."

"A well-ordered society is one effectively regulated by a public conception of justice."

"The veil of ignorance ensures that no one is disadvantaged or advantaged in the choice of principles by the outcome of natural chance or social circumstances."

"Self-respect is perhaps the primary good, and a just society must support the conditions for its development."

"Civil disobedience is justified when citizens have exhausted normal democratic channels and face grave injustice."

"Political liberalism respects the diversity of reasonable comprehensive doctrines that citizens hold."

"The difference principle justifies unequal distributions only when they improve the situation of the worst off."

"A conception of justice is stable when citizens brought up under just institutions will develop a sense of justice."

"Legitimate political power must be exercised in ways that all citizens can accept as free and equal persons."

"The basic structure of society profoundly affects citizens' life prospects and sense of their own worth."

"Background justice requires that institutions distribute initial advantages in a way that is fair to all."

"Pure procedural justice occurs when there is no independent criterion for the right result, only a fair procedure."

"Citizens should have equal basic rights and liberties that cannot be traded away for economic advantage."

"The two principles of justice protect fundamental interests and ensure fair terms of cooperation."

"Reasonable pluralism about the good life is compatible with agreement on principles of justice."

"A society must guarantee that all citizens have genuine opportunities to develop and exercise their capacities."

"Justice requires that we consider society from the perspective of those who are least well off."

"The worth of rights depends on the ability to exercise them, not merely on their formal recognition."

"Social cooperation requires principles that rational persons could agree to as free and equal citizens."

"Overlapping consensus on justice can be reached across diverse philosophical and religious worldviews."

"The basic liberties include freedom of conscience, political participation, and personal freedom."

"Distributive justice concerns how the main social institutions allocate fundamental rights and duties."

"Public reason requires that basic political decisions be justifiable by principles acceptable to all citizens."

"A just society creates the conditions for citizens to maintain self-respect despite their different circumstances."