Justice, not expedience, must be the guiding light. The orator must fix his eye on the polestar of justice, and plough straight thither. The moment he glances toward expediency, he falls from his high estate.
John Peter AltgeldRead
Fill the seats of justice with good men, not so absolute in goodness as to forget what human frailty is.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Justice requires good people who understand human imperfection.
This quote emphasizes the importance of having individuals in positions of authority who are virtuous yet realistic about human flaws. It suggests that an overly rigid sense of goodness can lead to a lack of empathy and understanding towards the complexities of human nature, which is essential in the pursuit of true justice.
Themes
JusticeGoodnessHuman FrailtyEmpathyAuthority
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on the legal system, this quote can highlight the need for compassionate judges.
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