Absoluta sententia expositors non indigent- When language of law is clear, no

explanation of it is required.
Actus me inuito 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.
Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur sentential - Relative words refer to
the nearest antecedents, unless the context otherwise requires.
Argumentum a contrario- Negative-opposite doctrine.
Casus omissus pro omisso habendus est - A person, object or thing omitted from an
enumeration must be held to have been omitted intentionally.
Cessante ratione legis, cessat et ipsa lex- When the reason of the law ceases, the law
itself ceases.
Contemporanea expositio est optima et fortissima in lege- The contemporary
construction is strongest in law.
Distingue tempora et concordabis jura- Distinguish times and you will harmonize laws.
Dura lex sed lex- The law may be harsh, but that is the law.
Ejusdem generis- Of the same kind or specie.
Exceptio firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis- A thing not being excepted must be
regarded as coming within the purview of the general rule.
Ex dolo malo non oritur action- No man can be allowed to found a claim upon his own
wrongdoing.
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius- The express mention of one person, thing or
consequence implies the exclusion of all others.
Expressum facit cessare taciturn- What is expressed puts an end to that which is
implied.
Ex necessitate legis- By necessary implication of law.
Falsa demonstratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat- False description does not
preclude construction: vitiate the meaning of the statute.
Favores ampliandi sunt; odia restringenda- Penal laws which are favorable to the
accused are given retroactive effect.
Generale dictum generaliter est interpretandum- A general statement is understood in a
general sense.
Generalia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda- What is generally spoken shall be
generally understood.
Generalia specialibus non derogant- A general law does not nullify a specific or special
law.
Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est- It is exceedingly hard but so the
law is written.
Impossibilium nulla obligatio est- There is no obligation to do an impossible thing.
Index animi sermo est- Speech is the index of intention.
In eo quod plus sit, semper inest et minus- The greater includes the lesser.
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
Interpotare et concordare legibus est optimus interpotandi modus- Every statute must
be so construed and harmonized with other statutes as to form uniform system of law.
Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat- A law should be interpreted
with a view to upholding rather than destroying it.
Interpretatio talis in ambiguis semper fienda est ut evitetur inconveniens et absurdum-
Where there is ambiguity, such interpretation as will avoid inconvenience and absurdity
is to be adopted.
Legis interpretatio legis vim obtinet- The authoritative interpretation of the court of a
statute acquires the force of law by becoming a part thereof.
Leges posteriores priores contraries abrogant- A later law repeals a prior law on the
same subject which is repugnant thereto.
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.
Maledicta est expositio quae corrumpit textum- It is dangerous construction which is
against the text.
Noscitur a sociis- Word construed with reference to accompanying or associated words.
Nova constitutio futuris formam imponere debet non praeteritis- A new statute should
affect the future, not the past.
Nullus commodum potest de injuria propriasua- No man should be allowed to take
advantage of his own wrong.
Nullum crimen sine poena,nulla poena sine lege- There is no crime without a penalty,
and there is no penalty without a law.
Nullum temp us occurit regi- There can be no legal right as against the authority that
makes the law on which the right depends.
Optima statuti interpretatrixest ipsum statutum- The best interpreter of a statute is the
statute itself
Optimus interpres rerum usus- The best interpreter of the law is usage.
Pari material- Relating to same matter.
Privilegia reciprint largan interpretationem voluntate consonan concedentis- Privileges
are to be interpreted in accordance with the will of him who grants them.
Potior est in tempore,potior est in jure- He who is first in time is preferred in right.
Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum- What is prohibited
directly is prohibited indirectly.
Ratihabito mandato aquiparatur- Legislative ratification is equivalent to a mandate.
Ratio legis- Interpretation according to spirit.
Ratio legis est anima legis- The reason of the law is its soul.
Reddendo singula singulis- Referring each to each; referring each phrase or expression
to its appropriate object; or let each be put in its proper place
Salus populi est suprema lex- The voice of the people is the supreme law.
Surplusagium non nocet- Surplusage does not vitiate a statute.
Stare decisis et non quieta movere- Follow past precedents and do not disturb what has
been settled.
Ubi jus, ibi remedium- Where there is a right, there is a remedy
Ubi lex non distinguit, nec nos distinguere debemus- Where the law does not
distinguish, we should not distinguish.
Utile per inutile non vitiatur- The useful is not vitiated by the non-useful.
Ut res magis valeat quam pereat- That construction is to be sought which gives effect to
the whole of the statute its every word.
Verba accipienda sunt secundum subjectam materiam- A word is to be understood in
the context in which it is used.
Verba intentioni, non e contra,debent inservire- Words ought to be more subservient to
the intent and not the intent to the words.
Verba legis- Plain-meaning rule.
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jury subveniunt- The laws aid the vigilant, not those
who slumber on their rights.
Verba legis non est recedendum- From the words of the statute there should be no
departure.