“The ancient maxim makes the sum of a man’s legal duty to his fellow men to be simply this: “To live honestly, to hurt no one, to give to every one his due.””

—  Lysander Spooner

Section I, p. 6
Natural Law; or The Science of Justice (1882), Chapter I. The Science of Justice.

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Lysander Spooner photo
Lysander Spooner 30
Anarchist, Entrepreneur, Abolitionist 1808–1887

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“Man, no doubt, owes many other moral duties to his fellow men; such as to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, protect the defenceless, assist the weak, and enlighten the ignorant. But these are simply moral duties, of which each man must be his own judge, in each particular case, as to whether, and how, and how far, he can, or will, perform them. But of his legal duty—that is, of his duty to live honestly towards his fellow men—his fellow men not only may judge, but, for their own protection, must judge. And, if need be, they may rightfully compel him to perform it. They may do this, acting singly, or in concert. They may do it on the instant, as the necessity arises, or deliberately and systematically, if they prefer to do so, and the exigency will admit of it.”

Lysander Spooner (1808–1887) Anarchist, Entrepreneur, Abolitionist

Section II, p. 6
Natural Law; or The Science of Justice (1882), Chapter I. The Science of Justice.

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“To every man posterity gives his due honour”
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Book IV, 35; Church-Brodribb translation
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“Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.”

Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) Indian Hindu monk and phylosopher

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“To give one's self earnestly to the duties due to men, and, while respecting spiritual beings, to keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom.”

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“Every man has his own circle composed of trees, animals, men, ideas, and he is in duty bound to save this circle. He, and no one else. If he does not save it, he cannot be saved.”

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The Saviors of God (1923)
Context: Every man has his own circle composed of trees, animals, men, ideas, and he is in duty bound to save this circle. He, and no one else. If he does not save it, he cannot be saved.
These are the labors each man is given and is in duty bound to complete before he dies. He may not otherwise be saved. For his own soul is scattered and enslaved in these things about him, in trees, in animals, in men, in ideas, and it is his own soul he saves by completing these labors.

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“I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men.”

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Abou Ben Adhem
Context: Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An Angel writing in a book of gold: Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,
"What writest thou?" The Vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord." "And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men." The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest!

Ulpian photo

“Justice is the constant and perpetual will to render to every man his due.”
Iustitia est constans et perpetua voluntas ius suum cuique tribuendi.

Ulpian (170–228) Roman jurist

“All just order in the world is based on this, that man give man what is his due.”

Josef Pieper (1904–1997) German philosopher

Justice http://books.google.com/books?id=XjYbAAAAIAAJ&q=%22All+just+order+in+the+world+is+based+on+this+that+man+give+man+what+is+his+due%22&pg=PA10#v=onepage (1955)
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“A free man must be able to endure it when his fellow men act and live otherwise than he considers proper.”

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Ch. 1 : The Foundations of Liberal Policy § 11 : The Limits of Governmental Activity http://mises.org/liberal/ch1sec11.asp
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