1. Clausula rebus sic stantibusThings thus standing.

2. Absoluta sentential expositore non indigentWhen the language of the law is clear, no explanation is required.

3. Dura lex sed lexThe law may be harsh but it is the law.

4. Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta estIt is exceedingly hard, but so the law is written.

5. Aequitas nunquam contravenit legisEquity never acts in contravention of the law.

6. Aequum et bonum est lex legumeWhat is good and equal is the law of laws.

7. Jus ars boni et aequiLaw is the art of equity.

8. Ratio legis est anima legisThe reason of the law is the soul of the law.

9. Littera necat spiritus vivificateThe letter kills but the spirit gives life.

10. Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent inserviceWords ought to be more subservient to the intent, and not the intent to the words.

11. Benignus leges interpretandae sunt, quod voluntas eraum conserveturLaws are to be construed liberally, so that their spirit and reason be preserved.

12. Qui haret in littera haret in cortice He who considers merely the letter of an instrument goes but skin deep into its meaning.

13. Quando verba statute sunt speciali, ratio autem generalia, statum generaliter est intelligendumWhen the words used in a statute are special, but the purpose of the law is general, it should be read as the general expression.

14. Legis interpretation legis vim obtinetJudicial construction and interpretation of a statute acquires the force of law.

15. Contemporanea exposition est optima et fortissimo in legeContemporary construction is strongest in law.

16. Optima est legum interpres consuetudoCustom is the best interpreter of a statute.

17. Regula pro lege, si deficit lexIn default of the law, the maxim rules.

18. Optimus interpres rerum ususThe best interpreter of the law is usage.

19. Communis error facit jusCommon error sometimes passes as current law.

20. Quod ab initio non valet in tractu temporis non convalescitThat which was originally void, does not by lapse of time become valid.

21. Ratihabitio mandato aequiparatur Legislative ratification is equivalent to a mandate.

22. Interest republicae ut sit finis litiumThe interest of the state demands that there be an end to litigation.

23. Index animi sermo estSpeech is the index of the mind or speech is the index of intention.

24. Animus hominis est anima scriptiThe intention of the party is the soul of the instrument

25. Verba legis non est recedendumFrom the words of the statute there should be no departure.

26. Maledicta et exposition quae corrumpit textumIt is bad construction which corrupts the text.

27. Littera scripta manetThe written word endures.

28. Nulla potential supra legis esse debetNo power must be above the law.

29. Jurae naturae aequum est neminem cum alterius detrimento et injuria fleri locupletioremIt is certainly not agreeable to natural justice that a stranger should reap the pecuniary produce of another man’s work.

30. Surplusagium non nocetSurplusage does not vitiate a statute.

31. Utile per inutile non vitiaturThe useful is not vitiated by the non-useful.

32. Falsa demostratio non nocet, cum de corpore constatFalse description does not preclude construction nor vitiate the meaning of the statute.

33. Cessante rationi legis, cessat et ipsa lexWhen the reason of the law ceases, the law itself ceases.

34. Interpretatio talis in ambiguis simper fienda est ut evitatur inconveniens et absurdumWhere there is ambiguity, the interpretation of such that will avoid inconveniences and absurdity is to be adopted.

35. Legis construction non facit injuriamThe construction of the law will not be such as to work injury or injustice.

36. Argumentum ab inconvenient plurimum valet in legeAn argument drawn from inconvenience is forcible in law.

37. Verba nihil operari melius est quam absurdIt is better that words should have no operation at all than that they should operate absurdly.

38. Lex simper intendit quod convenit rationiThe law always intends that which is in accordance with reason.

39. Ubi eadem ratio ibi idem jusLike reason doth make like law.

40. Argumentum a simili valet in legeAn argument drawn from a similar case, or analogy, prevails in law.

41. De similibus idem est judicium Concerning similars, the judgment is the same.

42. Ubi eadem est ratio, ibi est eadem legis dispositionWhere there is the same reason, there is the same law.

43. Ea est accipienda interpretation quae vitio caretThat interpretation is to be adopted which is free from evil or injustice.

44. Lex injusta non est lexAn unjust law is not a law.

45. Fiat justitia, ruat coelumLet right be done, though the heavens fall.

46. Nemo est supra legisNobody is above the law.