Latin Maxims
19. Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita
1. Legis interpretation legis vim obtinet.
Judicial construction and interpretation of a
statute acquires the force of law.
2. Contemporanea exposition est optima et
fortissimo in lege.
Contemporary construction is strongest in law.
3. Optima est legum interpres consuetudo.
Custom is the best interpreter of a statute.
4. Regula pro lege, si deficit lex.
In default of the law, the maxim rules.
5. Optimus interpres rerum usus.
The best interpreter of the law is usage.
6. Communis error facit jus.
Common error sometimes passes as current
law.
7. Quod ab initio non valet in tractu
temporis non convalescit.
That which was originally void, does not by
lapse of time become valid.
8. Ratihabitio mandato aequiparatur.
Legislative ratification is equivalent to
mandate.
9. Stare decisis et non quieta movere.
Follow past precedents and do not disturb what
has been settled.
10. Interest republicae ut sit finis litium.
The interest of the state demands that there be
an end to litigation.
11. Index animi sermo est.
Speech is the index of intention.
12. Animus hominis est anima scripti.
The intention of the party is the soul.
13. Verba legis non est recedendum.
From the words of the statute there should be
no departure.
14. Maledicta et exposition quae corrumpit
textum.
It is bad construction which corrupts the text.
15. Littera scripta manet.
The written word endures.
16. Clausula rebus sic stantibus.
Things thus standing.
17. Absoluta sentential expositore non
indigent.
When the language of the law is clear, no
explanation is required.
18. Dura lex sed lex.
The law may be harsh but it is the law.
lex scripta est.
It is exceedingly hard, but so the law is written.
20. Aequitas nunquam contravenit legis.
Equity never acts in contravention of the law.
21. Aequum et bonum est lex legume.
What is good and equal is the law of laws.
22. Jus ars boni et aequi.
Law is the art of equity.
23. Ratio legis est anima legis.
The reason of the law is the soul of the law.
24. Littera necat spiritus vivificate.
The letter kills but the spirit gives life.
25. Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent
inservice.
Words ought to be more subservient to the
intent, and not the intent to the
words.
26. Benignus leges interpretandae sunt, quod
voluntas eraum conservetur.
Laws are to be construed liberally, so that their
a spirit and reason be preserved.
27. Qui haret in littera haret in cortice.
He who considers merely the letter of an
instrument goes but skin deep into its
meaning.
28. Quando verba statute sunt speciali, ratio
autem generalia, statum generaliter
est intelligendum.
When the words used in a statute are special,
but the purpose of the law is
general, it should be read as the general
expression.
29. Cessante rationi legis, cessat et ipsa lex.
When the reason of the law ceases, the law
itself ceases.
30. Interpretatio talis in ambiguis simper
fienda est ut evitetur inconveniens et
absurdum.
Where there is ambiguity, the interpretation of
such that will avoid
inconveniences and absurdity is to be adopted.
31. Legis construction non facit injuriam.
The construction of the law will not be such as
to work injury or injustice.
32. Argumentum ab inconvenient plurimum
valet in lege.
An argument drawn from inconvenience is
forcible in law.
33. Verba nihil operari melius est quam
absurde.
 It is better that words should have no operation
at all than that they should
operate absurdly.
34. Lex simper intendit quod convenit rationi.
The law always intends that which is in
accordance with reason.
35. Ubi eadem ratio ibi idem jus.
Like reason doth make like law.
36. Argumentum a simili valet in lege.
An argument drawn from a similar case, or
analogy, prevails in law.
37. De similibus idem est judicium.
Concerning similars, the judgment is the same.
38. Ubi eadem est ratio, ibi est eadem legis
disposition.
Where there is the same reason, there is the
same law
39. Ea est accipienda interpretation quae
vitio caret.
That interpretation is to be adopted which is
free from evil or injustice.
40. Lex injusta non est lex.
An unjust law is not a law.
41. Fiat justitia, ruat coelum .
Let right be done, though the heavens fall.
42. Nemo est supra legis.
Nobody is above the law.
43. Nulla potential supra legis esse debet.
No power must be above the law.
44. Jurae naturae aequum est neminem cum
alterius detrimento et injuria fieri
locupletiorem.
It is certainly not agreeable to natural justice
that a stranger should reap the
pecuniary produce of another mans work.
45. Surplusagium non nocet.
Surplusage does not vitiate a statute.
46. Utile per inutile non vitiatur.
The useful is not vitiated by the non-useful.
47. Falsa demostratio non nocet, cum de
corpore constat.
False description does not preclude
construction nor vitiate the meaning of
the statute.
48. Nil facit error nominis cum de corpora vel
persona constat.
Error in name does not make an instrument
inoperative when the description
is sufficiently clear.
49. Certum est quod certum reddi potest.
That is sufficiently certain which can be made
certain.
50. Ibi quid generaliter conceditur, inest haec
exception, si non aliquid sit contras
jus basque.
Where anything is granted generally,
exemption from rigid application of law
is implied; that nothing shall be contrary to law
and right.
51. Summum jus, summa injuria.
The rigor of the law would be the highest
injustice.
52. Jus summum saepe, summa est militia.
Extreme law is often extreme wrong.
53. Nemo tenetur ad impossibilia.
The law obliges no one to perform an
impossibility.
54. Impossibilum nulla obigatio est.
There is no obligation to do an impossible
thing.
55. Lex non cogit ad impossibilia.
The law does not require an impossibility.
56. Lex non intendit aliquid impossible.
The law does not intend the impossible.
57. Ex necessitate legis.
By the necessary implication of law.
58. In eo quod plus sit, simper inest et minus.
The greater includes the lesser.
59. Cui jurisdiction data est, ea quoque
concessa esse videntur sine quibus
jurisdiction explicari non potuit.
When jurisdiction is given, all powers and
means essential to its exercise are
also given.
60. Ubi jus, ibi remedium.
Where there is a right, there is a remedy for
violation thereof.
61. Ubi jus incertum, ibi jus nullum.
Where the law is uncertain, there is no right.
62. Ex dolo malo non oritur action.
An action does not arise from fraud.
63. Nullius commodum capere potest de
injuria sua propria.
No one may derive advantage from his own
unlawful act.
64. In pari delicto potior est condition
defendentis.
Where the parties are equally at fault, the
position of the defending party is
the better one.
65. Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo,
prohibetur et per obliquum.
What cannot, by law, be done directly cannot
be done indirectly.
66. Generalia verba sunt generaliter 80. Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi
intelligenda. impediatur sentential.
General words should be understood in their A qualifying word or phrase should be
general sense. understood as referring to the nearest
antecedent.
67. Generis dictum generaliter est
interpretandum. 81. Reddendo singular singulis.
A general statement is understood in its Referring each to each, or referring each
general sense. phrase or expression to its
appropriate object, or let each be put in its
68. Verba accipienda sunt secundum proper place.
subjectam materiam.
A word is to be understood in the context in 82. Exceptio firmat regulam in casibus non
which it is used. exceptis.
A thing not being expected must be regarded
69. Verba mere aequivoca, si per communem as coming within the purview
usum loquendi in intellectu certo of the general rule.
sumuntur, talis intellectus preferendus
est. 83. Optima statute interpretatrix est ipsum
Equivocal words or those with double meaning statutum.
are to be understood The best interpreter of the statute is the
according to their common and ordinary sense. statute itself.

84. Ex tota materia emergat resolution.

70. Verba artis ex arte. The exposition of a statute should be made
Words of art should be explained from their from all its parts put together.
usage in the art to which they
belong. 85. Injustum est, nisi tota lege inspecta, de
una aliqua ejus particula proposita
71. Verba generalia restringuntur ad indicare vel respondere.
habilitatem rei vel personam. It is unjust to decide or to respond as to any
General words should be confined according to particular part of a law without
the subject-matter or examining the whole of the law.
persons to which they relate.
86. Nemo enim aliquam partem recte
72. Ubi lex non distinguit necnon distinguere intelligere possit antequam totum
debemus. interum
Where the law does not distinguish, the courts atque interim perlegit.
should not distinguish. The sense and meaning of the law is collected
by viewing all the parts
73. Dissimilum dissimilis est ratio. together as one whole and not of one part only
Of things dissimilar, the rule is dissimilar. by itself.

74. Noscitur a sociis. 87. Ex antecendentibus et consequentibus fit

A thing is known by its associates. optima interpretation.
A passage will be best interpreted by reference
75. Ejesdem generis. to that which precedes and
Of the same kind or specie. follows it.

76. Expressio unius est exclusion alterius.
The express mention of one person, thing or
consequence implies the
exclusion of all others.
77. Expressum facit cessare tacitum.
What is expressed puts an end to that which is
implied.
78. Argumentum a contrario.
Negative-Opposite Doctrine: what is expressed
puts an end to that which is
implied.
79. Cassus omissus pro omisso habendus est.
A person, object or thing omitted from an
enumeration must be held to have
been omitted intentionally.
88. Verba posterima propter certitudinem
addita ad priora quae certitudine
indigent sunt referenda.
Reference should be made to a subsequent
section in order to explain a
previous clause of which the meaning is
doubtful.
89. Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis
valeat quam pereat.
A law should be interpreted with a view of
upholding rather than destroying it.
90. Pari materia.
Of the same matter.
91. Interpretare et concordare leges legibus
est optimus interpretandi modus.
 Every statute myst be so construed and
harmonized with other statutes as to
form a uniform system of law.
92. Distingue tempora et concordabis jura.
Distinguish times and you will harmonize law.
93. Tempora mutantur et leges mutantur in
illis.
Times have changed and laws have changed
with them.
94. Mutatis mutandis.
With the necessary changes.
95. Salus populi est suprema lex.
The voice of the people is the supreme law.
96. Statuta pro publico commodo late
interpretantur.
Statutes enacted for the publc good are to be
construed liberally.
97. Privatum incommodum publico bono
pensatur.
The private interests of the individual must
give way to the accommodation of
the public.
98. Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea.
The act does not make a person guilty unless
the mind is also guilty.
99. Actus me invito facturs non est meus
actus.
An act done by me against my will is not my
act.
100.Privilegia recipiunt largam
interpretationem voluntate consonem
concedentis.
Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance
with the will of him who grants
them.
101.Renunciatio non praesumitur.
Renunciation cannot be presumed.
102.Strictissimi juris.
Follow the law strictly.
103.Nullum tempus occurit regi.
There can be no legal right as against the
authority that makes the law on
which the right depends.
104.Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura
subveniunt.
The law aids the vigilant, not those who
slumber on their rights.
105.Potior est in tempore, potior est in jure.
He who is first in time is preferred in right.
106.Lex prospicit, non respicit.
The law looks forward, not backward.
107.Lex de futuro, judex de praeterito.
The law provides for the future, the judge for
the past.
108.Nova constitutio futuris formam imponere
debet non praeteritis.
A new statute should affect the future, not the
past.
109.Leges quae retrospciunt, et magna cum
cautione sunt adhibendae neque
enim janus locatur in legibus.
Laws which are retrospective are rarely and
cautiously received, for Janus has
really no place in the laws.
110.Leges et constitutiones futuris certum est
dare formam negotiis, non ad facta
praeterita revocari, nisi nominatim et de
praeterito tempore et adhuc
pendentibus negotiis cautum sit.
Laws should be construed as prospective, not
retrospective, unless they are
expressly made applicable to past transactions
and to such as are still
pending.
111.Nullum crimen sine poena, nulla poena
sine lege.
There is no crime without a penalty, there is no
penalty without a law.
112.Favorabilia sunt amplianda, odiosa
restringenda.
Penal laws which are favorable to the accused
are given retroactive effect.
113.Leges posteriores priores contrarias
abrogant.
Later statutes repeal prior ones which are
repugnant thereto.
114.Generalia specialibus non derogant.
A general law does not nullify a specific or
special law.
115.Ignorantia legis neminem excusat.
Ignorance of the law excuses no one.
116.In obscuris inspici solere quod versimilius
est, aut quod plerumque
fieri solet.
When matters are obscure, it is customary to
take what appears to be more
likely or what usually often happens.
117.Ambiguitas verborum patens nulla
verificatione excluditur.
A patent ambiguity cannot be cleared up by
extrinsic evidence.
118.Ad ea quae frequentibus accidunt jura
adaptatur.
Laws are understood to be adapted to those
cases which most frequently
occur.
119.Jus constitui oportet in his quae ut
plurimum accidunt non quae ex
inordinato.
Laws ought to be made with a view to those
cases which happen most
frequently, and not to those which are of rare
or accidental occurrence.

120.Quod semel aut bis existit praetereunt

legislatores.
Legislators pass over what happens only once
or twice.

121.De minimis non curat lex.

The law does not concern itself with trifling
matters.

122.Nigrum Nunquam Excedere 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).