Being good means being just

The true rule of life is to be good; and to be good means to be just. It is in the nature of man to seek his good in the common good; for without justice, no one can be good. - Cicero, De Finibus, 3.21.71

When I first joined the Department of Justice in the early 2000s, I thought I understood what justice meant: a fair legal process, accountability for wrongdoing, and the protection of public safety. I’m now retired from that role, but while I served, I learned that justice is much more than that. It is as much about humanity as it is about the law—just as the Stoics saw justice not simply as a set of rules, but as a way of being.

Justice starts with understanding

First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak” - Epictetus, Discourses, 1.16.20.

In my work, I found that justice often began with listening and truly understanding a person’s story before acting. My experiences allowed me to see justice in its many forms—and sometimes, its distortions. I encountered situations where the facts were clear, but the right course was not. I saw that the law can punish, but it cannot heal; it can settle disputes, but it cannot restore trust on its own. Restoration requires us to remember that justice serves real people, not just systems.

Thinking beyond our interests

The Stoic view of justice demands that we think beyond our own interests. Much like Hierocles described a series of concentric circles—with ourselves at the center, surrounded by family, community, and ultimately all of humankind—our moral task is to draw those outer circles closer. For me, that meant remembering that every decision, no matter how procedural, had a human impact.

Justice that extends beyond legal definitions

While Stoicism acknowledges the importance of laws and social order, it also teaches a more profound understanding of justice that extends beyond legal definitions. It is rooted in the belief that all people are interconnected and part of a larger whole. This kind of justice is not only about fairness in the courtroom, but about acting with integrity, compassion, and a commitment to the common good in every sphere of life.

I also learned that power without self- restraint can distort justice. I’ve seen people confuse decisiveness with fairness, and urgency with clarity. But justice done in haste is rarely justice at all. The real measure of fairness is not how fast we decide, but how well we consider.

When I returned to college at 60 to study organizational psychology and mediation, I expected a challenge—but I didn’t expect how much it would deepen my understanding of justice as a virtue. My studies gave me a lens to see the invisible forces: trauma, fear, and learned behaviours that shape human actions. It reinforced something the Stoics understood long ago—that to judge well, we must first understand the human condition.

That understanding shifted how I thought about accountability. It’s not about “getting even”—that phrase has no place in true justice—but about restoring balance. Sometimes that meant a firm consequence. Other times, it meant creating space for someone to change. Often, it required both.

By promoting fairness, respect, and compassion, Stoic justice contributes to a more harmonious and just society. And on a personal level, living justly aligns with our rational nature and promotes inner peace. It is both a public responsibility and a private discipline.

Justice is something you practice

The Stoics would say justice is not something you “win.” It’s something you practice—in the way you speak, in the way you decide, and in the way you see others. Looking back, I see my years at the Department of Justice and my academic work as deeply connected. Both taught me that justice is rarely neat and never passive. It requires active engagement, steady self- control, and the willingness to find solutions that honour both truth and dignity.

Today, when I think of justice, I don’t picture a courtroom or a classroom. I picture conversations, thoughtful pauses, and the long, patient work of repair. I picture the small, daily decisions we make that either widen or close the gap between fairness and harm. For me, justice is—and always will be—a lifelong pursuit, one I intend to walk step by deliberate step.

Shirley Kwosek Sciacca is a writer, living in the midwest, seeking wisdom and resilience through lifelong learning and the practice of Stoic principles.

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