John Rawls

"The bounds of legitimate political power are set by principles that all citizens can accept."

"Meaningful freedom requires not just formal rights but real opportunities to exercise them."

"A just society must ensure that all citizens have access to the resources needed for self-respect."

"The genealogy of concepts helps us understand how ideas of justice develop historically."

"Citizens in a well-ordered society identify with institutions that treat them as free and equal."

"Basic structure justice requires looking beyond individual transactions to systemic fairness."

"Political stability rests on shared commitment to fair principles, not merely on modus vivendi."

"Justice requires that no one be systematically disadvantaged by the operation of social institutions."

"The concept of the person as free and equal is foundational to justice as fairness."

"Ideal theory articulates principles for a well-ordered society and guides efforts toward reform."

"Citizens should have adequate opportunities to participate meaningfully in political decision-making."

"A just distribution of natural talents should benefit all members of society, not just the fortunate."

"Comprehensive doctrines may disagree about the good life but agree on principles of political justice."

"The fair equality of opportunity principle requires removing background inequalities in education and resources."

"Justice as fairness applies to constitutional democracies with pluralistic societies."

"Citizens who accept just principles develop affection for institutions that realize them."

"The principles of justice create a framework within which individuals can pursue diverse conceptions of the good."

"A just society ensures that basic goods are distributed according to fair principles, not mere market forces."

"The stability of democratic institutions depends on cultivating citizens' sense of justice."

"Legitimate authority rests on principles that all citizens can endorse as free and equal."

"Background inequalities must be continuously addressed to maintain fair conditions of opportunity."

"Citizens deserve respect as the authors of their own life plans within a just society."

"The contract doctrine grounds justice in principles rational persons would agree to under fair conditions."

"A just democratic constitution embodies principles that all citizens can recognize as legitimate."

"Social institutions shape what opportunities people actually have available to them."

"Reasonable citizens seek terms of social cooperation that all can accept as free and equal persons."

"Justice requires that institutions sustain the conditions for all citizens to develop their moral capacities."

"The basic structure is the primary subject of justice because it profoundly affects all citizens' prospects."

"Citizens in a well-ordered society do not view justice as a mere modus vivendi but as truly legitimate."

"Inequalities in wealth and income must satisfy the difference principle to be just."