"Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what sting is justice"

In this quote, H. L. Mencken is suggesting that injustice is much easier to accept than justice. He implies that oppression is a less painful experience than justice, as it is simpler to bear. This might be because oppression is typically viewed as an incorrect that has actually been done to us, and so we can accept it as something that has happened to us, rather than something that we have actually done incorrect. On the other hand, justice is typically viewed as something that we have actually done incorrect, therefore it can be harder to accept. Justice can be viewed as a punishment for our misdeeds, and so it can be harder to accept than injustice. Oppression can be viewed as something that has been done to us, and so it can be much easier to bear.