Rawls, John

"Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought."

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

"The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance."

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

"Freedom as the basis for self-respect is perhaps the most important primary good."

"Justice as fairness is not a complete contract theory. It is a theory of the basic structure of society."

"The original position is a device of representation designed to serve as a method for deriving principles of justice."

"All citizens are free and equal citizens in a society governed by fair terms of cooperation."

"Self-respect is perhaps the primary good in a well-ordered society."

"A conception of justice must provide a way of assigning rights and duties in the basic structure of society."

"The veil of ignorance ensures that no one is disadvantaged or advantaged by natural chance or social circumstance."

"Laws and institutions must be reformed however good, if they injure the people."

"Fair equality of opportunity requires more than the absence of discrimination."

"Persons are moral agents responsible for and capable of respecting the principles of justice that would be chosen."

"The difference principle permits inequalities that work to everyone's advantage, particularly the worst-off."

"Social cooperation is more than the activity of individuals pursuing their own interests."

"Well-ordered societies are stable because citizens voluntarily support just institutions."

"The basic structure is the primary subject of justice because its effects are profound and present from birth."

"Liberty has priority over equality in a well-ordered society."

"Each citizen has an equal right to the most extensive basic liberties compatible with similar liberties for all."

"The two principles of justice work together to create a fair system of cooperation."

"Economic incentives can be justified only if they improve the position of the worst-off."

"A just system requires that all have genuine opportunity to develop and exercise their talents."

"Political legitimacy derives from principles that free and equal persons would agree to."

"The conception of the person is fundamental to all theories of justice."

"Reasonable pluralism about comprehensive doctrines is a permanent feature of modern democracy."

"Public reason requires citizens to justify political coercion in terms acceptable to all."

"A well-ordered society is stable when citizens accept the principles of justice for the right reasons."

"The social contract tradition provides the best framework for thinking about justice."

"Justice requires that the distribution of benefits and burdens be fair to all citizens."