西方法谚精选

一、法的品性 （一）法的特点

Where the law is uncertain, there is no law. 法无定法，则无法。

The letters written stay while the voice flies away. 书写的文字留下了，说话的声音飞走了。

The law does not define exactly, but trusts in the judgment of a good man. 法律并不做（过于）详尽规定，而委诸善良之人进行判断。 It is a miserable slavery where the law is vague or uncertain. 法律一旦模糊或不确定，人们就会陷入可怕的奴役。

If you depart from the law, you will wander without a guide, and everything will be in a state of uncertainty to every one.

如果离开法律，你就会因失去方向而迷茫，所有的事物也都会处于不确定的状态。 Too great certainty destroys certainty itself. 过于确定就会破坏确定性本身。 Too great subtleness in law is reproachable. 在法律中，过于精密并不可取。

That which is capable of being made certain is to be treated certain. 可得而确定者，亦为确定。 All definitions in law are hazardous. 在法律中所有定义都是危险的。

Every definition in law is perilous, and an exception may reverse it. 法律中每一个定义都是危险的，一个例外就可以推翻它。 The practice of fixing and refixing the laws is a most dangerous one. 朝令夕改是最危险的做法。 In time of war, the law is silent. 战争一开始，法律就沉默。

The laws sometimes sleep, but never die. 法律有时会沉睡，但绝不会灭亡。

When the law is effective, the people are prosperous. 法律有效力。国民便昌盛。 Force is inimical to the laws. 武力是与法律不相容的。

The order of pleading being preserved, the law is preserved. 没有诉权，就没有法律。

The law looks forward, not backward. 法律向前看，不向后看。

A new statute should affect the future, not the past. 新法影响未来而不是过去。

The law provides for the future, the judge for the past. 法律为未来作规定，法官为过去做判决。

A new law ought to be prospective, not retrospective in its operations. 在实施过程中，新的法律应规定未来，而不应溯及既往。 Every new law should give a form to future, not to past. 任何新法均不针对过去，而是着眼于将来。

It is clear that laws and ordinances settle the course of future transactions and do not refer to bygone matters, unless their provisions relate expressly both to a past time and matters hitherto pending.

法律和法规之规定将来的事务，而不管过去之事项，这乃自明之理；但是法律明确规定对于迄今未决之过去事项予以适用者，不在此限。 A law is not obligatory unless it be promulgated. 法律不经公布就有效力。

Where there is no law, there is no transgression. 没有法律也就谈不上违法。

Nothing which is inconvenient is lawful. 不合宜者，亦不合法。

Laws are adapted to general persons not to singular ones. 法不是针对个别人而是针对一般人而设计的。

Laws are adapted to those cases which most commonly occur. 法规是针对那些最常出现的情况制定的。

The legislators do not care for those things which rarely happen. 立法者不关心稀罕之事。

Those things which rarely happen are not to be taken into account in the transaction of business without sufficient reason.

在处理事物时，除非有足够的根据，否则就不应当去考虑那些罕有发生的事情。 The law does not care for very small or trifling matters. 法律不计较琐细的事。

The law does not concern itself about trifles. 法律不关心琐碎的事情。 The law aids the ignorant. 法律帮助无知者。

The law aids minors. 法律帮助无知者。 The law aids minors. 法律帮助未成年人。

The law helps persons who are deceived, not those deceiving. 法律帮助受欺骗的人而不帮助行骗的人。

He vainly invokes the aid of the law who transgresses the law. 谁违反法律谁就别指望得到法律的帮助。 Laws are imposed, not on words, but things. 法不是玩弄文字的，而是规定事理的。 All laws are made for human being. 任何法都是为人而设计的。

The wisdom of law cannot be valued by money. 法律的智慧不能以金钱来衡量。 The law does injury to no one. 法律本身不会伤害任何人。 A fiction of law injures no one. 法律上的拟制不会损害任何人。 The law does injustice to no one. 法律不会对任何人不公平。 Where there is a law, there is a penalty. 有法律就有惩罚。 The law punishes falsehood. 法律惩罚不诚实的行为。

Whatever is done in excess is prohibited by law. 行为超过限度，法律就禁止。

The multitude of those who err is no excuse for error. 法亦责众。

The law always abhors delay. 法律总是痛恨迟延。

The law regards the order of nature. 法律尊重自然秩序。

In law, the proximate, not the remote cause is regarded. 法律只究近因，不问远因。

The law requires not what is vain and useless.

法律不要求无用无益之事。

The law never requires what is vain and useless. 法律不强制任何人实施无益或无用的行为。 Laws never order what is vain. 法律不做出任何无益的命令。

The law does not arise from the rule, but the rule from the law. 法非源于规则，而是规则源于法。 No man ought to be wiser than the law. 任何人都不会比法律更聪明。

It is wiser to argue with law than to argue with man. 与法相争比与人相争更明智。

The disposition of aw is firmer and more powerful than the will of man. 法律的意志比人的意志更坚强有力。

The disposition of law is more just than the disposition of man. 法律的处置比人的处置更公平。

The custody of the law is stronger than that of man. 法律的监护比人的监护更有力。

The law is the most secure armor with which no one can be invaded. 法律是最安全的盔甲，在法律的保护下，任何人都不会受侵犯。 Laws are easier to be enacted than to be carried out. 造法易，执法难。

Execution is the end and fruit of the law. 实施乃法律的目的和果实。

The effect of the law consists in the execution. 法律的效力在于实施。

The execution of the law causes no injury. 实施法律不会造成任何损害。

The process of the law is a grievous vexation; the execution of the law crowns the work. 法律的过程是令人烦恼的过程；只有法律得到了执行才算完成了工作。 Law arises out of fact; that is, its application must be to facts. 法律源于事实，即实施法律必须以事实为依据。 Simplicity is friend of the laws. 简洁乃法律之友。

The law should be brief so as to be easily understood. 法律必须简洁以便更容易掌握。