Full Idea
Justice is the last virtue of society, or at least the last resort. Rights, or considerations of justice, are like an insurance policy: something offering security to fall back on.
Gist of Idea
Rights and justice are only the last resorts of a society, something to fall back on
Source
Jonathan Wolff (An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev) [2006], 6 'Transcending')
Book Reference
Wolff,Jonathan: 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev)' [OUP 2006], p.198
A Reaction
I like this. He points out that a good family doesn't talk of rights and justice. We want a friendly harmonious society, with safety nets.