Values Quotes – G.K. Chesterton on Justice

Todays quote is from G.K. Chesterton, the popular English writer who was known as the “prince of paradox.”

A brilliant quote from Chesterton is:
“Children are innocent and love justice, while most adults are wicked and prefer mercy.”

Now that’s a convicting statement.

As a differentiating value, Justice means being just or fair; conforming with established standards or rules; or equitable.

For most of us, when we made some really bad choices as a child- we accepted the consequences when we did something wrong. And we expected justice when our siblings did something wrong. I don’t know about your childhood, but I was reprimanded for not doing what I was told, like cleaning up my room. There were punishments for intentionally hurting my sister, or saying something mean or inappropriate.

But as adults, we should know the difference between right and wrong. It should be self-evident when we make a wrong choice, especially a really bad choice.

Yet, we hate it when we’re caught.

Instead of just acknowledging that we messed up, saying I’m sorry, and resolving to never do it again, many times we make it worse. We pretend we’re innocent and ignore the damage done. Maybe we even blame others, or worse pretend nothing happened, hoping it’ll just go away. But when the truth is revealed and we must face justice, it’s amazing how an adult can suddenly cry out for mercy in ways a child would never do.

When it comes to right and wrong and the need for justice, what I think Chesterton was suggesting is that we should all be like little children: acknowledge our mistakes, apologize, accept the consequences, and then move on.

 

Today’s value was selected from the “Fairness-Respect” category, based on the e-book Developing Your Differentiating Values.