What seems fair enough against a squalid huckster of bad liquor may take on a different face, if used by a government determined to suppress political opposition under the guise of sedition.
Interpretation
The quote highlights how fairness can be perceived differently depending on the context, especially when power is misused under the pretense of justice.
Learned Hand's quote reflects the complexity of justice and fairness, illustrating that the intentions behind actions can significantly alter their ethical implications. What may initially seem justifiable against a minor wrongdoer, like a dishonest liquor seller, can take on a troubling and potentially oppressive nature when employed by a government to silence dissent. This serves as a reminder to critically evaluate the motives behind those in power and to understand that the concept of fairness is often subjective and can be manipulated.
In practice
In a discussion about government overreach during a political debate.
"I beseech ye in the bowels of Christ, think that ye may be mistaken." I should like to have that written over the portals of every church, every school, and every courthouse, and, may I say, of every legislative body in the United States. I should like to have every court begin, "I beseech ye in the bowels of Christ, think that we may be mistaken."
The language of the law must not be foreign to the ears of those who are to obey it.
I shall ask no more than that you agree with Dean Inge that even though counting heads is not an ideal way to govern, at least it is better than breaking them.
As soon as we cease to pry about at random, we shall come to rely upon accredited bodies of authoritative dogma; and as soon as we come to rely upon accredited bodies of authoritative dogma, not only are the days of our liberty over, but we have lost the password that has hitherto opened to us the gates of success as well.
What to an outsider will be no more than the vigorous presentation of a conviction, to an employee may be the manifestation of a determination which it is not safe to thwart.
The spirit of liberty is the spirit of him who, near two thousand years ago, taught mankind that lesson it has never learned ... .
Zen professes itself to be the spirit of Buddhism, but in fact it is the spirit of all religions and philosophies.
Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president.
Most of the real bad guys in the world are people like you and me; they're not stupid, and you can't smell their horns.
We always live in an uncertain world. What is certain is that the United States will go forward over time.
I beheld the wretch-the miserable monster whom I had created.
The one thing that the racist can never manage is anything like discrimination: he is indiscriminate by definition.
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