Johnson, on the other hand, is a piece of the puzzle that has taught me over time that our experiences do matter. I disagree with Justice Stevens’s opinion, but I know that many people think he was absolutely right and that the court is stronger because his opinion was a part of the consideration of the case.

What he brought to these cases — and to those he weighed in on even after his retirement — is a reminder that our lived reality matters, whether we are judges or in any job where we interact with others, assess the world around us or exert some control over others. In other words, most jobs.

The lessons I took from those dissents — the importance of seeking to understand others’ experiences and of understanding that our own experiences inevitably shape the way we see the world — is what I’m left thinking about when I think about Justice Stevens.

If the justices are to represent and hold the respect of the entire country, a diversity of voices on the Supreme Court matters for these reasons. For the court to continue to rule on matters of national importance, the justices need to have the desire to view the world from outside of their experiences and the humility to understand that their views are shaped by their own experiences.

It has been especially evident over the past week that a diversity of perspectives is essential across government — from Congress to the executive branch — to insist that people of all colors and backgrounds are included when we talk about what it means to be Americans. A diversity of perspectives matters in media as well, to equip newsrooms to seek out and understand the many stories that need to be told. A diversity of perspectives is needed in law enforcement — from police to prosecutors to defense lawyers to state attorneys general — if we are to see lives like that of Eric Garner, who died at the hands of a New York police officer five years ago this week, valued in our nation. The same need is present in most jobs and enterprises across the country.

If we expect to continue to find a path forward — a way in which all of us can continue to live under that United States flag — the kind of shared understanding that seems to be lacking in so many areas today must be reached, one that acknowledges the role our own experiences play in creating our views and one in which we strive mightily, and genuinely, to understand the lives of others.

It is truly unfortunate that John Paul Stevens will not be around to help us in finding that shared understanding. But his words will live on to help us on our path.