John Rawls — "The idea of a well-ordered society is an ideal, but a useful one."

"The principles of justice apply to the basic structure of society, not to individual actions directly."

"The basic liberties are inalienable and cannot be traded off for other goods."

"We are not to think of the original position as an actual assembly."

"The difference principle represents, in effect, an agreement to regard the distribution of natural talents as a common asset and to share in the benefits of this distribution whatever it turns out to …"

"No one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like."