"John F. Kennedy’s famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” perfectly illustrates Aristotle’s definition of justice. The Greek philosopher himself described justice as a “public virtue,” one that implies each member of a community must uphold some individual obligations to the community at large, and in turn, means each person receives what they deserve for their actions.
In this way, justice is every bit as private as it is public. Because this goal is about proper behavior in society, it also requires proper behavior as an individual. It necessitates internal virtues."
Actually, it was the Roman statesman Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC) who Kennedy borrowed that famous phrase, but the point is well-taken. Civic duty and personal responsibility is a two-way street that requires both citizens and government to be circumspect and responsible.
