Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
There is a point at which even justice does injury.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Justice can sometimes lead to harm rather than good.
This quote by Sophocles suggests that while justice is typically seen as a positive force, there can be situations where the pursuit of justice may cause harm or injustice to individuals. It invites us to consider the complexities of moral decisions and highlights the potential negative consequences of rigidly adhering to a strict notion of justice without considering the broader context and the human element involved.
Themes
JusticeHarmMoralityDecisionComplexity
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the implications of legal decisions in a courtroom.
More from Sophocles
All quotes βNone love the messenger who brings bad news.
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All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.
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Not even Ares battles against necessity.
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You clearly hate to yield, but you will regret it when your anger has passed. Such natures are justly the hardest for themselves to bear.
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There is nothing more hateful than bad advice.
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