Rawls, John

"The basic liberties protect the conditions necessary for developing and exercising moral capacities."

"Fair value of political liberty demands limits on political influence of economic power."

"A conception of justice must be stable when the principles are publicly acknowledged."

"The least advantaged deserve priority in the distribution of social primary goods."

"Rational persons behind the veil of ignorance would choose justice as fairness."

"Justice as fairness provides a framework for thinking about the basic structure of a liberal democracy."

"Self-respect among citizens is fostered by fair institutions and equal basic liberties."

"The burdens of judgment explain why people reasonably disagree about comprehensive doctrines."

"Political authority must be exercised in ways acceptable to citizens as free and equal persons."

"The principle of subsidiarity respects the autonomy of non-political groups within a just basic structure."

"Stability requires that people internalize a commitment to the principles of justice."

"A just scheme of social cooperation defines the boundaries of acceptable political coercion."

"The basic structure determines the background conditions within which individuals and groups operate."

"Justice forbids arrangements that impose unjustified burdens on any member of society."

"Citizens have a natural duty to support and comply with just institutions."

"Fair procedures alone do not ensure fair outcomes without just substantive background conditions."

"The idea of free and equal persons is foundational to liberal political theory."

"A well-ordered society achieves stability because people affirm its principles from their own perspective."

"Justice as fairness explains how democratic societies can be both stable and fair."

"The lexical priority of basic liberties ensures that fundamental freedoms cannot be traded for economic gain."

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

"The duty to extend justice applies not only to current generations but to future ones as well."

"Political legitimacy requires that basic institutional arrangements be justifiable to all citizens."

"The concept of the person as free and equal is central to democratic citizenship."

"A fair system of cooperation respects the rational autonomy of all participants."

"Justice requires that institutions serve the common good and protect individual rights equally."

"The difference principle reflects a conception of reciprocity among citizens."

"Citizens in a liberal democracy must tolerate reasonable comprehensive doctrines they may reject."

"The original position is a device of representation for thinking about fair principles of justice."

"Injustice arises when institutions systematically advantage some groups over others."