Thursday, August 20, 2009

Some Well Known Latin Maxims

Actus me invito factus non est meus actus - An act done by me against my will is not my act

Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea - the act itself does not make a man guilty unless his intention were so

Dura lex sed lex - the law maybe harsh but it is the law

Ex dolo malo non oritur actio
- No man can be allowed to found a claim upon his own wrongdoing

Favores ampliandi sunt; odia restringenda
- Penal laws whic are favorable to the accused are given retroactive effect

Impossibilium nulla obligatio est - There is no obligation to do an impossible thing

Index animi sermo est - Speech is the index of intention

Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium - Public interest requires that by the very nature of things there must be an end to a legal controversy

Lex de futuro, judex de praterito - The law provides for the future, the judge for the past

Lex prospicit, non respicit - The law looks forward, not backward

Nullum crimen sine poena, nulla poena sine legis
- There is no crime without a penalty, and there is no penalty without a law

Ratio legis et anima legis - The reason of the law is its soul

Salus populi est suprema lex - The voice of the people is the supreme law

Ubi jus, ibi remedium - Where there is a right, there is a remedy

Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt - The laws aid the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights.

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