Dura lex, sed lex
“The law is harsh, but it is the law.”
After Ulpian, Digest 40.9.12.1
What does “Dura lex, sed lex” mean?
Dura lex, sed lex translates as “The law is harsh, but it is the law.”
A rule must be followed even when it hurts. Laws only protect everyone if they apply also when they are inconvenient.
“Dura lex, sed lex” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Dura | harsh, hard | feminine nominative singular (agreeing with lex) of durus, “hard, harsh”; the predicate adjective of an understood “is” |
| lex | the law | nominative singular of lex, “law”; the subject of the first clause |
| sed | but | conjunction (a coordinating conjunction) introducing the contrast |
| lex | the law | nominative singular of lex, “law”; here the verb “is” is understood: “it is law” |
How to pronounce “Dura lex, sed lex”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. Dura stresses the first syllable, and the short words lex and sed each have one syllable.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “harsh law, but law”. The verb “is” is left out, as often in Latin, which is why the phrase feels so compact. The idea comes from the Roman jurist Ulpian, who is quoted in the Digest.
The Digest is the great collection of excerpts from Roman jurists, put together on the orders of the emperor Justinian in the sixth century. Ulpian’s remark is that a particular rule is very harsh, but that is how the law is written. The short form “Dura lex, sed lex” is a later condensation of that thought, not Ulpian’s exact wording.
Lawyers, judges and ordinary speakers still use it when a rule gives an unwelcome result but has to be applied anyway. It also turns up in French, Italian and Spanish legal speech.
How to use “Dura lex, sed lex”
It suits a note on rule-following or duty, an essay on law and fairness, a motto for a lawyer or student of law, or a tattoo for someone who values consistency over convenience. It also works as a dry joke about a fine, a deadline or a rule you cannot argue with.
- Latin
- Dura lex, sed lex
- English
- The law is harsh, but it is the law.
- Source
- After Ulpian, Digest 40.9.12.1
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Law
Common mistakes
- It is not a quotation of Ulpian’s exact words. The short form sums up his remark in the Digest, so say “after Ulpian”.
- It does not mean that every law is just. It says only that a law must be applied even when it is harsh.
- Do not write “durus lex”. Lex is feminine, so the adjective takes the feminine form dura.
- Do not change the second lex into “lege” or “legem”. In this phrase it is nominative, as the subject of an understood “is”.
Questions about “Dura lex, sed lex”
What does “Dura lex, sed lex” mean literally?
“Harsh law, but law”. Latin leaves out the verb, so English adds it: “The law is harsh, but it is the law.”
Who said “Dura lex, sed lex”?
The short phrase is a later summary of a remark by the Roman jurist Ulpian, preserved in the Digest (40.9.12.1). It is not his exact wording.
How do you pronounce “Dura lex, sed lex”?
Say “DOO-rah leks sed leks”. Classical and Church Latin sound the same here.
Is “Dura lex, sed lex” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. The grammar is correct: dura agrees with the feminine noun lex, and the verb “is” is understood. Keep the comma before sed.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.