The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (287 page)
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IGNORANCE of the law is no excuse for breaking it
There is a hoary legal maxim:
ignorantia iuris neminem excusat
, ignorance of the law excuses nobody.
c
1412
De Regimene Principum
(EETS) 92
Excuse schal hym naght his ignorance.
1530
Dialogues in English
II. xlvi.
Ignorance of the law though it be inuincible doth not excuse.
1616
Adages
100
The ignorance of the law excuseth no man.
a
1654
Table-Talk
(1689) 30
Ignorance of the Law excuses no man; not that all Men know the Law, but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to confute him.
1830
Mariner's Sketches
xxviii.
Ignorance of the law excuses nobody … The gates of mercy are forever shut against them.
1979
Private Eye
17 Aug. 6
[He] was fined £5 at Marylebone Court when he learned that ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it.
excuses
;
law and lawyers
ignorantia iuris neminem excusat
, ignorance of the law excuses nobody.
c1412
De Regimene Principum
(EETS) 92
Excuse schal hym naght his ignorance.
1530
Dialogues in English
II. xlvi.
Ignorance of the law though it be inuincible doth not excuse.
1616
Adages
100
The ignorance of the law excuseth no man.
a
1654
Table-Talk
(1689) 30
Ignorance of the Law excuses no man; not that all Men know the Law, but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to confute him.
1830
Mariner's Sketches
xxviii.
Ignorance of the law excuses nobody … The gates of mercy are forever shut against them.
1979
Private Eye
17 Aug. 6
[He] was fined £5 at Marylebone Court when he learned that ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it.
excuses;
law and lawyers
It's an ILL bird that fouls its own nest
A condemnation of a person who vilifies his own family, country, etc. Cf. medieval L.
nidos commaculans inmundus habebitur ales
, the bird is unclean that soils its nest.
a
1250
Owl & Nightingale
(1960) l. 99
Dahet habbe [a curse on] that ilke best that fuleth his owe nest.
c
1400
Moral Tales
(1889) 205
Hytys a fowle brydde that fylyth hys owne neste.
1591
Preparative to Marriage
82
It becommeth not any woman to set light by her husband, nor to publish his infirmities for they say, it is an euill bird that defileth his owne nest.
1670
English Proverbs
62
It's an ill bird that beraies its own nest.
1817
Rob Roy
II. xiii.
Where's the use o'vilifying ane's country … It's an ill bird that files its ain nest.
1926
Times
7 Sept. 17
Nothing .. can excuse the bad taste of Samuel Butler's virulent attack upon his defenceless family … It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
1981
Death-Cap Dancers
xiv.
It's a dirty bird that fouls its own nest. Your loyalty does you credit.
malice
nidos commaculans inmundus habebitur ales
, the bird is unclean that soils its nest.
a1250
Owl & Nightingale
(1960) l. 99
Dahet habbe [a curse on] that ilke best that fuleth his owe nest.
c
1400
Moral Tales
(1889) 205
Hytys a fowle brydde that fylyth hys owne neste.
1591
Preparative to Marriage
82
It becommeth not any woman to set light by her husband, nor to publish his infirmities for they say, it is an euill bird that defileth his owne nest.
1670
English Proverbs
62
It's an ill bird that beraies its own nest.
1817
Rob Roy
II. xiii.
Where's the use o'vilifying ane's country … It's an ill bird that files its ain nest.
1926
Times
7 Sept. 17
Nothing .. can excuse the bad taste of Samuel Butler's virulent attack upon his defenceless family … It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
1981
Death-Cap Dancers
xiv.
It's a dirty bird that fouls its own nest. Your loyalty does you credit.
maliceILL gotten goods never thrive
Cf. CICERO
Philippica
II. xxvii. 65
male parta
,
male dilabuntur
, things ill gotten slip away in evil ways.
1519
Vulgaria
77
Euyll gotten ryches wyll neuer proue longe.
c
1577
Treatise .. Dicing
95
Euill gotten goods shall neuer prosper.
1609
Case is Altered
V. xii.
Ill gotten goods ne'er thriue, I plaid the thiefe, and now am robd my selfe.
1670
English Proverbs
98
Ill gotten
goods
, seldom prosper.
1826
Elia's Last Essays
(1833) ii.
That ill-gotten gain never prospers
.. is the trite consolation administered to the easy dupe, when he has been tricked out of his money or estate.
1937
Busman's Honeymoon
x.
Ill gotten goods never thrive … Because he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor.
action and consequence
;
retribution
Philippica
II. xxvii. 65
male parta
,
male dilabuntur
, things ill gotten slip away in evil ways.
1519Vulgaria
77
Euyll gotten ryches wyll neuer proue longe.
c
1577
Treatise .. Dicing
95
Euill gotten goods shall neuer prosper.
1609
Case is Altered
V. xii.
Ill gotten goods ne'er thriue, I plaid the thiefe, and now am robd my selfe.
1670
English Proverbs
98
Ill gotten
goods
, seldom prosper.
1826
Elia's Last Essays
(1833) ii.
That ill-gotten gain never prospers
.. is the trite consolation administered to the easy dupe, when he has been tricked out of his money or estate.
1937
Busman's Honeymoon
x.
Ill gotten goods never thrive … Because he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor.
action and consequence;
retribution
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