{"id":1126,"date":"2025-06-07T23:21:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T05:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travispatron.ca\/?p=1126"},"modified":"2026-06-10T22:34:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T04:34:37","slug":"75-maxims-of-canadian-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/?p=1126","title":{"rendered":"75 Maxims Of Canadian Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is a list of latin maxims I gleaned from studying The Dictionary Of Canadian Law<\/em> by Daphne Dukelow (3rd<\/sup> Edition). I am reproducing them here as I believe they are relevant to political life in Canada today and can help secure our future as a unique nationality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This list is by no means exhaustive. There may be additional maxims of Canadian law that have not be included here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The list is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. prior tempore potior jure<\/em> – The person first in time is preferred in right.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. testes ponderantur, non numerantur<\/em> – witnesses should be weighed, not numbered.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. jus non patitur ut idem bis solvatur<\/em> – The law does not require a second payment for the same thing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. juris effectus in executione consistit<\/em> – The effect of law is given by execution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. jura publica anteferenda privatis<\/em> – Public rights should be preferred over private rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. volenti non fit injuria<\/em> – To a willing person, injury is not done.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. judicium a non suo judice datum nullius estmomenti<\/em> – A judgement given without proper jurisdiction has no effect in law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. melius est petere fontes quam sectari rivulos<\/em> – It is better to go to the source than follow tributaries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. mentio unius exclusio alterius<\/em> – To mention one thing is to exclude another.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. minatur innocentibus, qui parcit nocentibus<\/em> – Whoever spares the guilty threatens the innocent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. multa concedunter per obliquum, quae non concedunter de directo<\/em> – Many things are permitted indirectly which are not permitted directly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. fatetur facinus qui judicium fugit<\/em> – One who flees judgement admits guilt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. lex prospicit non respicit<\/em> – The law looks forward, not backward.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. lex uno ore omnes alloquitur<\/em> – The law addresses all parties with a single voice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. lex est dictamen rationis<\/em> – Law is the pronouncement of reason.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  16. leges extra territorium non obligant<\/em> – Laws are not binding outside their own territory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  17. judices non tenentur exprimere causam sententiae suae<\/em> – Judges are not required to explain the reason for their decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  18. nemo reus est nisi mens sit rea<\/em> – No one is guilty unless they have a guilty mind.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  19. quot homines tot sententiae<\/em> – There are as many opinions as there are people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  20. quod nullius est id ratione naturali occupanti conceditur<\/em> – What belongs to no one is by natural right granted to its occupier.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  21. rerum suarum quilibet est moderator et arbiter<\/em> – Each person is manager and judge of their own affairs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  22. non est regula quis fallet<\/em> – A rule does not exist without exceptions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  23. quod ab initio non valet in tractu temporis non convalecit<\/em> – What does not go well from the beginning will not improve with the passage of time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  24. res judicata pro veritate accipitur<\/em> – Until reversed, a judicial decision is conclusive and its truth may not be contradicted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  25. nemo patriam in qua natus est exuere nec ligeantiae debitum enjurare possit<\/em> – No one can cast away the country where they were born, nor foreswear the allegience owed to its sovereign.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  26. nihil habet forum ex scena<\/em> – The court has no concern for things which are not before it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  27. eodem ligamine quo ligatum st dissolvitur<\/em> – An obligation is ended the same way in which it was imposed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  28. qui vult decipi decipiatur<\/em> – Let the one who wants to be deceived be deceived.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  29. non jus, sed seisina, facit stipitem<\/em> – Not right, but seisin, makes the family tree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  30. os demonstrat quod cor ruminator<\/em> – The mouth divulges what the heart is thinking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  31. multitudo errantium non parit errori patrocinium<\/em> – That many people make the mistake does not excuse the error.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  32. respiciendum est judicanti, ne quid aut durius aut remissius constituatur quam causa deposcit; nec enim aut severitatis aut clementiae gloria affectanda est<\/em> – The one who judges should be mindful that nothing either more severe or more lenient is done than the case merits; for distinction should not be achieved by either severity or leniency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  33. ignorantia juris non excusat<\/em> – Ignorance of the law is no excuse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  34. illus quod alias licitum non est necessitas facit licitum; et necessitas inducit privilegium quod jure privatur<\/em> – Necessity permits what otherwise is not permitted; and necessity establishes a privilege which is justly removed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  35. clam deliquentes magis puniunter quam palam<\/em> – Those who sin secretly are punished more severely than those who sin openly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  36. arma in armatos sumere jura sinunt<\/em> – To use arms against persons who are armed is justifiable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  37. judicia in deliberationibus crebro maturescunt, in accelerato processu nunquam<\/em> – Judgements often ripen through deliberation, never in a hurried process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  38. invito beneficium non datur<\/em> – A benefit is not given to anyone who did not ask for it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  39. actor sequitur forum rei<\/em> – A plaintiff must take the case to the defendant’s jurisdiction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  40. majus dignum trahit ad se minus dignum<\/em> – The more worthy brings the less worthy along with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  41. crescente malitia crescere debet et poena<\/em> – Where malice increases, punishment should also increase.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  42. cujus est dare ejus est disponere<\/em> – The one who gives something can also control its disposition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  43. debile fundamentum fallit opus<\/em> – A weak foundation destroys the work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  44. dies dominicus non est juridicus<\/em> – The Lord’s Day (Sabbath) is not a day for business (Lord’s Day Act<\/em>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  45. libertas est naturalis facultas ejus quod cuique facere libet<\/em> – Freedom is the power given by nature to do whatever one pleases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  46. longa possessio parit jus possidendi et tollit actionem vero domino<\/em> – Prolonged possession creates a right of possession, and removes any right of action from the real owner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  47. justitia nemini neganda est<\/em> – Justice should be denied to no one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  48. melius est omnia mala pati quam malo consentire<\/em> – It is better to endure all evil than to agree to evil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  49. in his quae de jure communi omnibus conceduntur, consuetudo alicujus patriae vel loci non est alleganda<\/em> – In those things which common right concedes to all, the custom of a particular country or place should not be brought forward.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  50. jus descendit, et non terra<\/em> – Right descends, and not the land.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  51. in judicio non creditor nisi juratis<\/em> – In trial, no one’s evidence is accepted unless that person is sworn.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  52. jus non habenti tute non paretur<\/em> – It is safe to disobey one who has no legal right.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  53. justitia debet esse libera<\/em> – Justice should be free.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  54. vir et uxor consentur in lege una persona<\/em> – Husband and wife are held to be one person in law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  55. vigilantibus subvenit lex<\/em> – The law helps the vigilant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  56. vim vi repellere licet, modo fiat moderamine inculpatae tutelae<\/em> – It is legal to repel force with force, as long as it is governed by a desire to defend.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  57. vox emissa volat, litera scripta manet<\/em> – The spoken word disappears, the written word remains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  58. rex non potest peccare<\/em> – The monarch can do no wrong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  59. legatus regis vice fungitura quo destinatur et honograndus est sicut ille cujus vicemgerit<\/em> – An ambassador takes the place of the monarch who sent them and should be honoured just as the person in whose place they stand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  60. jurare est deum in testem vocare, et est actus divini cultus<\/em> – To swear is to call a deity to witness, and is an act of religious worship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  61. vix ulla lex fieri potest quae omnibus commoda sit<\/em> – Barely any law can be made which is applicable to everything.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  62. qui sentit commodum sentire debet etonus<\/em> – The one who bears the burden should also reap the benefit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  63. salus populi est suprema lex<\/em> – The safety of the people is the highest law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  64. quae non valeant singula juncta juvant<\/em> – Words which have no effect alone are effective when combined.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  65. quod nullius est, est domini regis<\/em> – What belongs to no individual belongs to the sovereign.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  66. quod necessarium est licitum<\/em> – What is necessary is also lawful.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  67. impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat<\/em> – leaving a crime unpunished invites worse crimes to be committed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  68. electa una via, non datur recursus ad alteram<\/em> – Having elected, recourse to the alternative is not permitted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  69. donari videtur, quod nullo jure cogente conceditur<\/em> – A thing is considered given when it is transferred any way except by virtue of right.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  70. error qui non restitur, approbatur<\/em> – One who fails to rectify a mistake is deemed to have approved it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  71. do ut facias<\/em> – I give so that you may perform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  72. nec veniam, effuso sanguine innocentis, casus habet<\/em> – If innocent blood is spilled, the case is unforgivable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  73. extra legem positus est civiliter mortuus<\/em> – One placed outside the law is dead civilly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  74. omne quod solo inaedificatur solo cedit<\/em> – Everything built into the ground is merged with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  75. omnia quae jure contrahuntur, contrario jure pereunt<\/em> – All things accomplished by a law come to naught with a contradictory law.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This is a list of latin maxims I gleaned from studying The Dictionary Of Canadian Law by Daphne Dukelow (3rd Edition). I am reproducing them here as I believe they are relevant to political life in Canada today and can help secure our future as a unique nationality. This list is by no means exhaustive. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[94],"class_list":["post-1126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-judicial","tag-maxims"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1126"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2519,"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1126\/revisions\/2519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travispatron.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}