---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ignorance of the law excuses no man from…"
description: "\"Ignorance of the law excuses no man from practicing it.\" — Addison Mizner"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/addison-mizner-48695_excuse_ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from_704453.png"
---

#  Ignorance of the law excuses no man from practicing it.

![“Ignorance of the law excuses no man from practicing it.” quote by Addison Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/addison-mizner-48695_excuse_ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from_704453.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/addison-mizner-48695_excuse_ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from_704453.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/addison-mizner-48695_excuse_ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from_704453.png)

> “Ignorance of the law excuses no man from practicing it.”

[Addison Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Ignorance does not excuse breaking the law; everyone must follow it regardless of knowledge.

**In simple terms:** Not knowing the law isn’t a defense.

Key Takeaway

Learn and respect legal obligations.

Themes

law responsibility ethics

Mood

educational serious

Type

informative practical

When to use this quote

- business compliance
- personal conduct
- public policy

Key Concepts

legal accountability civil duty

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you stay informed about laws?
- What support exists for legal education?

A Different Perspective

Complex laws can be hard to understand for laypeople.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance of the law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-of-the-law/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/)

## Related quotes

> [Ignorance of the law excuses no man; not that all men know the law, but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-not-that-all-men-know-the-law-but-2/)

[John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/)

> [Ignorance of the law excuses no man; not that all men know the law, but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-not-that-all-men-know-the-law-but/)

[John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/)

> [Ignorance of the law excuses no man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man/)

[John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/)

> [Ignorance of the law is no excuse in any country. If it were, the laws would lose their effect, because it can always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/ignorance-of-the-law-is-no-excuse-in-any-country-if-it-were-the-laws/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Lawyers are the only persons in whom ignorance of the law is not punished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/lawyers-are-the-only-persons-in-whom-ignorance-of-the-law-is-not/)

[Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/)

> [But ignorance of the law is no excuse. A person is guilty even if he breaks the law unknowingly. I shall be perhaps the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-funk/but-ignorance-of-the-law-is-no-excuse-a-person-is-guilty-even-if-he/)

Walther Funk

> [Ignorance of the law is no good excuse, where every man is bound to take notice of the laws to which he is subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/ignorance-of-the-law-is-no-good-excuse-where-every-man-is-bound-to/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [The laws of nature are only as immutable as the minds which promote them. Ignorance of the law is 9/10ths of the law. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-laws-of-nature-are-only-as-immutable-as-the-minds-which-promote/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [Ignorance of the law of irreducibility was no excuse. I could no longer excuse myself with the claim that I didn't know the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/ignorance-of-the-law-of-irreducibility-was-no-excuse-i-could-no/)

[Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/)

> [Ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse for accused criminals, and it cannot be an excuse for members of Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-broun/ignorance-of-the-law-is-not-a-valid-excuse-for-accused-criminals-and/)

[Paul Broun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-broun/)

> [“No doubt you’ve heard the phrase 'ignorance of the law is no excuse’, and are probably familiar with the statist meaning of that phrase:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/starchild/no-doubt-you-ve-heard-the-phrase-ignorance-of-the-law-is-no-excuse/)

Starchild

> [Ignorance of the law must not prevent the losing attorney from collecting his fee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/legal-maxim/ignorance-of-the-law-must-not-prevent-the-losing-attorney-from/)

[Legal Maxim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/legal-maxim/)

> [If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesnt want you, nothing can make him stay. Stop making excuses for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie/if-a-man-wants-you-nothing-can-keep-him-away-if-he-doesnt-want-you/)

[Julie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie/)

> [Man's ignorance of the Law of Love in personal and world relationships will not serve as an excuse to save him from disaster. Wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/man-s-ignorance-of-the-law-of-love-in-personal-and-world/)

[Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/)

> [If A Man Wants You, Nothing Can Stop Him .. If He Doesn't, Nothing Can Make Him Stay! Stop Making Excuses For A Man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-a-man-wants-you-nothing-can-stop-him-if-he-doesn-t-nothing-can/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

## More by Addison Mizner

> [Never call a man a fool; borrow from him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/never-call-a-man-a-fool-borrow-from-him/)

[Addison Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/)

> [God gives us relatives; thank God, we can choose our friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/god-gives-us-relatives-thank-god-we-can-choose-our-friends/)

[Addison Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/)

> [Misery loves company, but company does not reciprocate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/misery-loves-company-but-company-does-not-reciprocate/)

[Addison Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/)

> [Where there is a will there is a lawsuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/where-there-is-a-will-there-is-a-lawsuit/)

[Addison Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/)

> [Poets are born, not paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/poets-are-born-not-paid/)

[Addison Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/)

> [It is my plan to create a city that is direct and simple... To leave out all that is ugly, to eliminate the unnecessary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/it-is-my-plan-to-create-a-city-that-is-direct-and-simple-to-leave-out/)

[Addison Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/)

> [They also swear who only stand and wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/they-also-swear-who-only-stand-and-wait/)

[Addison Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/)

[Explore all 8 Addison Mizner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/)

## More Excuse quotes

> [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/)

[Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/)

[Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/)

> [Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/win-without-boasting-lose-without-excuse/)

[Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/)

> [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/)

[Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/)

> [Dont leave without a reason, and then try to come back with an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-leave-without-a-reason-and-then-try-to-come-back-with-an-excuse/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Using, as an excuse, others' failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/using-as-an-excuse-others-failure-of-common-sense-is-in-itself-a/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/)

[Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/)

> [I'm not the guy who will sit in a room with somebody who's using a bunch of big words and just act like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-m-not-the-guy-who-will-sit-in-a-room-with-somebody-who-s-using-a/)

[Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/)

> [Worst Break Up Excuse; 'You deserve so much better.' Translation: They've already moved on whether you like it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-break-up-excuse-you-deserve-so-much-better-translation-they-ve/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [Live with No Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyanendra/live-with-no-excuse/)

[Gyanendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyanendra/)

Browse all 2,435 Excuse quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Ignorance of the law excuses no man from practicing it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Addison Mizner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from-practicing-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Excuse"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from-practicing-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/addison-mizner-48695_excuse_ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from_704453.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/addison-mizner-48695_excuse_ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from_704453.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/addison-mizner-48695_excuse_ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from_704453.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ignorance of the law excuses no man from practicing it.” — Addison Mizner",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Addison Mizner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-mizner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Ignorance of the law excuses no...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from-practicing-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-mizner/ignorance-of-the-law-excuses-no-man-from-practicing-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
