Latin Maxims

No. Latin Maxim Translation Loc.

1 Legis interpretato / legis vim btnet. Judicial construction and interpretation of a statute acquires the force of 139b
law.
2a Contemporanea exposito /est ptma et fortssima in lege. Contemporary construction is strongest in law. 190t
*b ptima est legum interpres / consuetudo. Custom is the best interpreter of a statute.
[c] Rgula pro lege,/ si dfcit lex. In default of law, the maxim rules.
3a ptmus interpres rerum / usus. The best interpreter of the law is usage. 194m
*b Communis error / facit jus. Common error sometimes passes as current law.
*c Quod ab intio non valet / in tractu tmporis / non cnvalescit. That which was originally void does not, by lapse of time, become valid.
4 Rathabto / mandato aequiparatur. Legislative ratification is equivalent to a mandate. 200t
5a Stare decisis / et non quieta movere. Follow past precedents and do not disturb what has been settled. 202b
b Interest reipblicae / ut sit finis ltum. The interest of the state demands that there be an end to litigation. 203t
6a Index nimi / sermo est. Speech is the index of intention. 206m
[b] nimus hminis / est nima scripti. The intention of the man is the soul of what is written.
c Verba legis / non est recedendum. Do not depart from the words of the statute. 206b
d Maledicta est / exposto quae corrumpit textum. It is bad construction which corrupts the text. 208b
[e] Littera scripta / manet. The written word endures.
[f ] Clusula rebus / sic stntibus. Things thus standing.
7a Absoluta sentnta / expositore / non ndiget. When the language of the law is clear, no explanation is required. 209t
b Dura lex / sed lex. The law may be harsh but it is the law. 209m
c Hoc quidem / perquam durum est, / sed ita lex scripta est. It is exceedingly hard, but so the law is written. 209m
8a Aquitas / nunquam contravenit legis. Equity never acts in contravention of the law. 210m
[b] Aquum et bonum / est lex legum. What is good and equal is the law of laws.
[c ] Jus / ars boni et aqui. Law is the art of good and equitable.
9a Rato legis / est nima legis. The reason of the law is the soul of the law. 214t
[b] Lttera necat / spritus vivfcat. The letter kills but the spirit gives life.
c Verba intentoni, / non e contra, / debent inservire. Words ought to be more subservient to the intent and not to the words. 215m

*d Benignus / leges interpretandae sunt, / quod voluntas earum Law is to be construed liberally so that its spirit and reason be preserved.
/conservetur.
Qui haret in lttera / haret in crtice. He who considers merely the letter of an instrument goes but skin deep
*e into its meaning.
Quando verba statuti sunt speciali, / ratio autem generlia, / When the words used in a statute are special, but the purpose of the law is
*f statutum / generliter est intelligendum. general, it should be read as the general expression.
10 Cessante ratoni legis, / cessat et ipsa lex. When the reason of the law ceases, the law itself ceases. 230m
11a Interpetato talis / in ambguis / semper fienda est / ut evitetur When there is ambiguity, the interpretation of such that will avoid 236m
inconveniens / et absurdum. inconvenience and absurdity is adopted.
*b Legis constructio / non facit injuriam. The construction of the law will not be as such as to work injury or
injustice.
*c Argumentum ab inconvenienti / plrimum valet in lege. An argument drawn from inconvenience is forcible in law.
*d Verba / nihil operari melis est / quam absurde. It is better that words should have no operation at all than that they should
operate absurdly.
Lex / semper intendit / quod convenit rationi. The law always intends that which is in accordance with reason.
*e Ubi edem ratio / ibi idem jus. Where there is the same reason, there is the same law.
*f Argumentum a smili / valet in lege. An argument drawn from a similar case, or analogy prevails in law.
[g] De simlibus / idem est judicium. Concerning similars, the judgement is the same.
[h] Ubi edem est ratio, / ibi est edem legis dispostio. Where the reason is the same, there is the same verdict of the law
[i ]
12a Ea est accipienda interpretato quae vito caret. That interpretation is to be adopted which is free from injustice. 243b
[b] Lex injusta non / est lex. An unjust law is not a law.
13a Fiat justta, / ruat coelum. Let right be done, though the heavens fall. 245t
[b] Nemo est / supra legis. Nobody is above the law.
[c] Nulla potentia / supra legis esse debet. No power must be above the law.
14 Jurae naturae aequum est / nminem / cum altrius detrimento et It is certainly not agreeable to natural justice that a stranger should reap 248m
injuria / feri locupletrem. the pecuniary produce of another mans work.
15a Surplusgium / non nocet. Surplusage does not vitiate a statute. 250m
b tle / per inutle / non vitatur. The useful is not vitiated by the non-useful. 250m
16a Falsa demonstrato / non nocet, / cum de crpore constat. False description does not preclude construction nor vitiate the meaning of 252t
the statute.
*b Nil facit / error nminis / cum de crpore vel persona / constat. Error in name does not make an instrument inoperative when the
description is sufficiently clear.
Certum est / quod certum reddi potest. That is sufficiently certain which can be made certain.
*c
17 Ibi / quid generliter concditur, / inest haec excepto, / si non Where anything is granted generally, exemption from rigid application of 252m
liquid sit contras / jus basque. law is implied: that nothing shall be contrary to law.
18a Summum jus, / summa injria. The rigor of the law would be the highest injustice. 252b
[b] Jus summum saepe, / summa est malitia. Extreme law is often extreme wrong.
19a Nemo / tenetur ad impossiblia. The law obliges no one to perform an impossibility. 253t
b Impossiblium nulla / obligto est. There is no obligation to do an impossible thing. 253t
*c Lex / non cogit ad impossiblia. The law does not require an impossibility.
*d Lex / non intendit liquid impossbile. The law does not intend the impossible.
20a Ex necessitate legis. By the necessary implication of law. 255m
b In eo / quod plus sit, / semper inest et minus. The greater includes the lesser. 255m
*c Ci / jurisdctio data est, / ea quoque / concessa esse videntur / sine When jurisdiction is given, all powers and means essential to its exercise
quibus jurisdictio / explicari non ptuit. are also given.
21a Ubi jus, / ibi remdium. Where there is a right, there is a remedy for the violation thereof. 257m
[b] Ubi jus incertum, / ibi jus nullum. Where the law is uncertain, there is no right.
22a Ex dolo malo / non ritur acto. An action does not arise from fraud. 265b
b Nullus / cmmodum cpere potest / de injuria sua propria. No one may derive advantage from his own unlawful act. 265b
c In pari delicto / ptor est condto defendents. Where the parties are equally at fault, the position of the defending party 266t
is the better one.
23 Quando liquid / prohibetur ex directo, / prohibetur et per What cannot by law be done directly cannot be done indirectly. 267t
oblquum.
24a Generlia verba / sunt generliter intelligenda. General words should not be understood in their general sense. 276m
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b Generale dictum / generliter est interpretandum. A general statement is understood in its general sense. 276m

25a Verba / accipienda sunt / secundum subjectam matriam. A word is to be understood in the context in which it is used. 288b
*b Verba mere aequivoca, / si per communem usum loquendi / in Equivocal words or those with double meaning are to be understood
intellectu certo sumuntur, / talis intellectus / preferendus est. according to their common and ordinary sense.
*c Verba artis / ex arte. Words of art should be explained from their usage in the art to which they
belong.
Verba generlia / restringuntur / ad habilitatem rei vel personam. General words should be confined according to the subject matter or
*d persons to which they relate.
26 Ubi lex non distnguit / necnon / distnguere debemus. Where the law does not distinguish, the courts should not distinguish. 289b
27 Dissmilum / dissmilis est rato. Of things dissimilar, the rule is dissimilar. 297b
28 Nonscitur / a sociis. A thing is known by its associates. 302t
29 Ejusdem generis. Of the same kind or specie. 309m
30a Expressio unus / est exlusio altrius. The express mention of one person, thing or consequence implies the 318b
exclusion of all others.
b Expressum / facit cessare / tcitum. What is expressed puts an end to that which is implied. 319t
31 Argumentum a contrrio. Negative-Opposite: What is expressed puts an end to which is implied. 323b
32 Casus omissus / pro omisso / habendus est. A person, object or thing being omitted from an enumeration must be held 336b
to have been omitted intentionally.
33 Ad prximum antecedens / fiat relato / nisi impediatur sentnta. A qualifying word or phrase should be understood as referring to the 337m
nearest antecedent.
34 Reddendo / sngular sngulis. Referring to each or referring each phrase or expression to its appropriate 339b
object, or let each be put in its proper place.
35 Excepto / firmat rgulam / in csibus non excepts. A thing not being expected must be regarded as coming within the purview 346b
of the general rule.
36a ptma statut interpretatrix est / ipsum statutum. The best interpreter of the statue is the statute itself. 356m
*b Ex tota matria / emergat resoltio. The exposition of a statute should be made from all its parts combined
*c Injustum est, / nisi tota lege inspecta, / de una liqua ejus partcula It is unjust to decide or to respond as to any particular apart of a law
propsita / indicare vel respndere without examining the whole of the law.
*d Nemo enim aliquam partem / recte intellgere possit / ntequam The sense and meaning of the law is collected by viewing all the parts
totum / terum atque terum perlegit. together as one whole and not of one part only by itself.
*e Ex antecedntibus et consequntibus ft / ptima interpretatio. A passage will be best interpreted by reference to that which precedes and
follows it.
*f Verba postrima / propter certitdinem ddita ad prioria / quae Reference should be made to a subsequent section in order to explain a
certitdine indiget / sunt referenda. previous clause of which the meaning is doubtful.
37 Interpretato fienda est / ut res magis vleat quam preat. A law should be interpreted with a view of upholding rather than 360t
destroying it.
38a Pari matria Of the same matter. 376m
b Interpretare et concordare / leges lgibus / est ptmus Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with other statutes as 376b
interpretandi modus. to have a uniform system of law.
39a Distngue tmpora / et concordabis jura. Distinguish times and you will harmonize law. 379t
[b] Tmpora mutantur / et leges mutantur in illis Times have changed and laws have changed with them.
[c] Mutatis / mutandis. With the necessary changes.
40a Salus ppuli / est suprema lex. The welfare of the people is the supreme law. 396t
b Statuta / pro pblico cmmodo / late intepretantur. Statutes enacted for the public good are to be construed liberally. 396t
*c Privatum incmmodum / pblico bono / pensatur. The private interests of the individual must give way to the
accommodation of the public.
41a Actus / non facit reum / nisi mens sit ren. The act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty. 408m
b Actus / me invito factus / non est meus actus. An act done by me against my will is not my act. 408m
42a Privilgia / recipiunt largam intepretatonem / voluntate Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance with the will of him who 414t
consonam concendents. grants them.
[b] Renunciatio / non praesmitur. Renunciation cannot be presumed.
43 Strictssimi juris. Follow the law strictly. 417b
44 Nullum tempus occurit / regi. There can be no legal right as against the authority that makes the law on 430m
which the right depends.
45a Vigilntibus et non dormintibus / jura subveniunt. The law aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights. 474b
b Ptior est in tmpore,/ ptior est in jure. He who is first in time is preferred in right. 474b
46a Lex prspicit, / non rspicit. The law looks forward, not backward. 489b
b Lex de futuro, / judex de praetrito. The law provides for the future, the judge for the past. 489b
c Nova constitution / futuris formam impnere debet non A new statute should affect the future, not the past. 490t
praeteritis.
*d Leges quae, retrospiciunt,/ et magna cum cautione sunt adhibendae Laws which are retrospective are rarely and cautiously received for Janus
/ neque enim Janus locatur in legibus. has really no place in the laws.
Leges et constitutiones / futuris / certum est dare formam / negtiis, Laws should be construed as prospective, not retrospective, unless they
*e non ad facta praeterita revocari, / nisi nominatim / et de praeterito are expressly made applicable to past transactions and to such as are still
tmpore et adhuc pendntibus negtiis / cautum sit. pending.
47 Nullum crimen sine poena, / nulla poena sine lege. There is no crime without a penalty. There is no penalty without a law. 494t
48 Favorabilia sunt amplianda, / odiosa rstringenda. Penal laws which are favorable to the accused are given retroactive effect. 497t
49 Leges posteriores / priores contrrias brogant. Later statutes repeal prior ones which are repugnant thereto. 563t
50 Generalia / specilibus /non drogant. A general law does not nullify a specific or a special law. 564m

*A Ignorntia legis / nminem excusat Ignorance of the law excuses no one.

*B 1 In obscuris / nspici slere quod verisimlius est,/ aut quod plerumque When matters are obscure, it is customary to take what appears to be more likely
feri solet. or what usually often happens.
[2] Ambigitas verborum patens / nulla verifcatione excluditur A patent ambiguity can be cleared up by extrinsic evidence (unless perfectly vague)
*C 1 Ad ea / quae frequntibus accident / jura adaptatur Laws are understood to be adapted to those cases which most frequently occur.
*2 Jus consttui oportet in his / quae ut plrimum accident / non quae Laws ought to be made with a view to those cases which happen most frequently
ex inrdinato. and not those which are of rare or accidental occurrence.
*3 Quod / semel aut bis / existit / praetreunt legislatores. Legislators pass over what happens only once or twice.
[4] De mnimis / non curat lex. The law does not concern itself with trifling matters.
Latin Maxims

*D Nigrum / numquam excedre debet /rubrum. The black (body of the act printed in black) should never go beyond the red (title or
rubric of the statute printed in red).