Rawls, John

"The concept of legitimacy is central to modern political philosophy."

"Fair procedures do not guarantee just outcomes in all circumstances."

"Citizens in a well-ordered society understand why the principles of justice are correct."

"The prioritization of liberties reflects the importance we assign to freedom."

"A just society does not view economic inequality as automatically acceptable."

"Political consensus in a diverse society must be more than mere modus vivendi."

"The capacity for self-determination is fundamental to respecting persons as free."

"Justice between generations requires that we preserve fair opportunities for our descendants."

"Persons should not be penalized for circumstances beyond their control."

"The two principles of justice can be stated as liberty and fair equality of opportunity."

"A conception of justice must be stable with respect to reasonable disagreement."

"Democratic processes should reflect the equal standing of all citizens."

"Public justification requires that laws be justified by reasons all can accept."

"The basic structure affects citizens' aspirations and what they consider achievable."

"A liberal conception of justice must remain neutral among competing conceptions of the good."

"Citizens have a natural duty to support just institutions when they benefit from them."

"The idea of the social contract remains relevant to modern political theory."

"Justice as fairness applies principles that all parties could rationally accept."

"A pluralistic society requires principles of justice that transcend particular worldviews."

"The concept of desert applies within a framework established by justice."

"Political institutions should protect the basic interests of all citizens equally."

"Fair background conditions are necessary for fair equality of opportunity."

"A just democratic system respects citizens as moral agents capable of revising their aims."

"The principles of justice must be knowable and publicly acknowledged."

"Citizens in a well-ordered society have a shared conception of political justice."

"The equal worth of political liberty requires fair access to political influence."

"Justice demands that we ask whether institutions can be justified to those affected by them."

"A legitimate political system respects the capacity of citizens for moral judgment."

"The basic structure sets the terms within which justice between individuals applies."

"Citizens should view democratic laws as collectively self-imposed, not externally imposed."