Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur
“No one is bound to do the impossible.”
Legal maxim
What does “Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur” mean?
Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur translates as “No one is bound to do the impossible.”
Law and fairness cannot demand what cannot be done. It is also a humane reminder in everyday life not to expect the impossible of others or ourselves.
“Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Ad | to, towards | preposition taking the accusative; here it marks what a person is held to (“to do the impossible”) |
| impossibilia | impossible things | accusative plural neuter of the adjective impossibilis, “impossible”, used as a noun |
| nemo | no one | nominative singular of nemo, “nobody”; the subject of the sentence |
| tenetur | is bound, is held | third person singular present indicative passive of teneo, “I hold”; here “is held to, is obliged” |
How to pronounce “Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur”
The two systems differ mainly in the double s and the b of impossibilia, which Church Latin softens slightly, and in the vowel sounds of the i. Stress falls on the fourth syllable of impossibilia (bi), the first of nemo and the second of tenetur.
The story behind it
Word for word the maxim says “to impossible things no one is held”. It states that nobody can be obliged to do what cannot be done.
The idea comes from Roman law. The Digest of Justinian, the sixth-century compilation of Roman legal writings, contains a closely related rule that there is no obligation to do the impossible. The exact wording of this maxim is a later legal formulation.
Medieval and early modern jurists handed such rules down as short Latin maxims. This one is still quoted in contract and civil law when a party cannot perform what was promised.
How to use “Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur”
Fits a law essay on contracts, impossibility or impracticability, a legal blog post or a lecture slide. It also works as a gentle reminder when setting realistic expectations of a team or of yourself.
- Latin
- Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur
- English
- No one is bound to do the impossible.
- Source
- Legal maxim
- Era
- Legal Latin
- Theme
- Law
Common mistakes
- It is a legal maxim, not a line from a Roman poet or orator, so do not credit it to a famous author.
- It does not excuse every hard task. In law it applies to what is truly impossible, not what is merely difficult or costly.
- Nemo is singular, so tenetur does not change to a plural form. Do not write “tenentur” to mean “people”.
- Impossibilia is neuter plural, “impossible things”. Using the singular impossibile would change the sense to “an impossible thing”.
Questions about “Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur”
What does “Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur” mean literally?
“To impossible things no one is bound.” In natural English: no one is obliged to do the impossible.
Who said “Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur”?
No single author. It is a legal maxim, related to a rule in the Roman Digest and passed down by later jurists.
How do you pronounce “Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur”?
In Classical Latin: ad im-pos-sih-BIH-lee-ah NEH-moh teh-NEH-toor. Church Latin changes only a few vowel and consonant sounds.
Is “Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur” still used in law?
Yes. It is cited in discussions of contract law and civil obligations when performance is impossible.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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