Josephson Institute  >  Quotations Bank

Quotations: Fairness

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian.
— Dennis Wholey, 20th/21st-century self-help author and journalist

It is less important to redistribute wealth than it is to redistribute opportunity.
— Arthur Vandenberg, American journalist and senator (1884-1951)

Grub first, then ethics.
— Bertolt Brecht, German dramatist (1898-1956)

I never thought about losing, but now that it’s happened, the only thing is to do it right.
— Muhammad Ali, boxer

It is your response to winning and losing that makes you a winner or a loser.
— Harry Sheehy, athletic director

It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself.
— Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady, civil rights advocate (1884-1962)

Hunger makes a thief of any man.
— Pearl S. Buck, American writer (1892-1973)

To blame is easy; to do it better is difficult.
— German proverb

Examine what is said, not the person who speaks.
— Native American proverb

These men ask for just the same thing, fairness, and fairness only. This, so far as in my power, they, and all others, shall have.
— Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president (1809-1865)

A person who cheats at play will cheat you any way.
— Dutch proverb

An onion shared with a friend tastes like roast lamb.
— Egyptian proverb

A bad workman blames his tools.
— Chinese proverb

We learn by watching and listening.
— Japanese proverb

In our hearts and in our laws, we must treat all our people with fairness and dignity, regardless of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation....
— Bill Clinton, 42nd U.S. president

If you cannot catch a fish, do not blame the sea.
— Greek proverb

Charity doesn’t excuse cheating.
— Yiddish proverb

A single penny fairly got is worth a thousand that are not.
— German proverb

Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace.
— Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th U.S. President (1890-1969)

Entering a village, obey the village.
— Japanese proverb

Win or lose, do it fairly.
— Knute Rockne, American football player and coach (1888-1931)

Justice knows no friendship.
— Estonian proverb

Fairness is man’s ability rise above his prejudices.
— Wes Fessler, American writer

Gratitude is the least of virtues, but ingratitude the worst of vices.
— French proverb

Cheat the earth and the earth will cheat you.
— Chinese proverb

Fairness is what justice really is.
— Potter Stewart, Supreme Court Justice (1915-1985)

Steal a little and they throw you in jail. Steal a lot and they make you a king.
— Bob Dylan, singer-songwriter

If my neighbor is happy, my own work will go easier, too.
— Macedonian proverb

In a community, it's better for every person to have a little of something than for one person to have everything.
— African proverb

Lock your door rather than suspect your neighbor.
— Lebanese proverb

Having drunk the country's water, one should obey the country's laws.
— Tibetan proverb

What is hateful to thyself do not do to another. That is the whole Torah [Law], the rest is Commentary.
— Hillel, ancient Jewish religious leader (c.110 B.C.E. - 10 C.E.)

One of the basic causes for all the trouble in the world today is that people talk too much and think too little. They act impulsively without thinking. I always try to think before I talk.
— Margaret Chase Smith, politician (1897-1995)

America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality.
— –Adlai Stevenson, Governor of Illinois (1900-1965)