The Crucible Justice Quotes

While it is true that taking care of oneself and loved ones is important, certain principles are worth risking one's life or quality of life for. In the play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, the character John Proctor stands up for his principles of truth and justice, even though it means risking his reputation and his life. One of the quotes that illustrate this is when John Proctor says "I have given you my soul; leave me my name!"(143) He is willing to sacrifice his reputation and name for the principle of truth and justice, showing his strong conviction in his beliefs. Similarly, in the movie "Good Night, and Good Luck," Edward R. Murrow risks his career and safety to speak out against the communist witch-hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.

As J. Ronald Oakley stated in his essay, "The Great Fear", "In one silly incident, a black bootblack in the Pentagon was interviewed seventy times by the FBI before it finally decided that he was not a security risk and should be allowed to continue shining shoes there."(209, The Great Fear)The quote is pointing out that the FBI's overzealous investigation of this bootblack, even though he posed no security threat, illustrates how important principles such as freedom and justice can be disregarded in the name of protecting oneself and loved ones. This incident shows how the government's actions to protect itself, regardless of the principle of innocence until proven guilty, can harm individuals and society as a whole. This quote can be used to argue that it is important to be aware of the negative consequences of prioritizing personal safety and well-being over important principles and to strive for a balance between protecting oneself and standing up for what is right.