Law Quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero
“The law is silent during war”
About This Quote
Source Letter: To Atticus, 44 BC
War silences legal frameworks, exposing the fragility of law in conflict.
In simple terms: War drowns out law.
Key Takeaway
Recognize law’s limits in war.
Themes
law
war
silence
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- policy making
- human rights
Key Concepts
justice
politics
fragility
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards protect law during war?
- How can societies rebuild legal order post‑conflict?
A Different Perspective
May idealize peace.
![“The law is silent during war. [Lat., Silent leges inter arma.]” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3c8/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_law_the-law-is-silent-during-war-lat-silent_1605376.jpg)
![“Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. [Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione quidem violari fas fuit.]” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/deb/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_hands_things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched_11960.jpg)
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
![“[Islam] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left for Muslims lies in their observance of the God-made law.” quote by Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/704/abul-a-la-maududi-51903_function_islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislatio_886.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
