Who said “Charity is no substitute for justice withheld.”?

Disputed

It's credited to St. Augustine, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable early source found for St. Augustine.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

APA

“Charity is no substitute for justice withheld.” [Quotation attributed to St. Augustine]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9497-charity-is-no-substitute-for-justice-withheld/

MLA

“Charity is no substitute for justice withheld.” Attributed to St. Augustine. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9497-charity-is-no-substitute-for-justice-withheld/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“Charity is no substitute for justice withheld.” Attributed to St. Augustine. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9497-charity-is-no-substitute-for-justice-withheld/.

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