Ex injuria jus non oritur
“Law does not arise from injustice.”
Legal maxim
What does “Ex injuria jus non oritur” mean?
Ex injuria jus non oritur translates as “Law does not arise from injustice.”
An illegal act cannot create a legal right for the person who commits it.
“Ex injuria jus non oritur” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Ex | out of, from | preposition governing the ablative; here it marks the source from which something arises |
| injuria | injustice, a wrong | ablative singular of injuria, “wrong, injustice”; the ablative after ex gives the source. Also spelled iniuria |
| jus | law, right | nominative singular of ius (also spelled jus), “law, right”; the subject of the verb |
| non | not | adverb of negation; it negates the verb oritur |
| oritur | arises, springs up | third person singular present indicative of orior, “I arise” (a deponent verb: passive form, active meaning) |
How to pronounce “Ex injuria jus non oritur”
Both pronunciations sound much alike here. Classical j (written i) is a y sound, as in yes. Church Latin often says it the same way, though some speakers make it a soft j as in English. Stress the second syllable of injuria and the second of oritur.
The story behind it
Word for word the maxim says “out of a wrong, law does not arise”. The idea is that a wrongful act cannot be the source of a legal right.
It is a legal maxim, not a line from a single ancient author, and it is usually counted among the general principles of law. It is best known from international law, where it is used to argue that territory or rights gained by unlawful force are not legally valid.
Lawyers, diplomats and commentators still cite it in disputes about annexation, occupation and the consequences of illegal acts. It is a modern legal formulation in Latin dress, so there is no ancient passage to point to.
How to use “Ex injuria jus non oritur”
A fitting motto for a law student or lawyer, a heading for an essay on international law, or a short statement of the belief that wrongdoing cannot earn a lawful reward. It suits serious contexts better than casual captions.
- Latin
- Ex injuria jus non oritur
- English
- Law does not arise from injustice.
- Source
- Legal maxim
- Era
- Modern
- Theme
- Justice
Common mistakes
- It is not a classical Roman quotation. It is a legal maxim, so do not credit it to Cicero or another ancient writer.
- Jus and ius are the same word, since j and i were one letter in Latin. Both spellings are correct.
- It does not say that an injustice is always undone or punished. It says only that the wrongdoer gains no legal right from the wrong.
- Do not confuse it with the saying ex injuria sua nemo habet actionem, a related but different maxim about not profiting from one’s own wrong.
Questions about “Ex injuria jus non oritur”
What does “Ex injuria jus non oritur” mean literally?
“Out of injustice, law does not arise.” In plain English: a wrong cannot be the source of a right.
Who said “Ex injuria jus non oritur”?
No single author is known. It is a legal maxim, a general principle stated in Latin and used especially in international law.
How do you pronounce “Ex injuria jus non oritur”?
Classically: eks in-YOO-ree-ah yoos nohn oh-REE-toor. The j sounds like an English y.
Is “Ex injuria jus non oritur” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is correct. Remember that it is a legal maxim, and that jus may also be written ius.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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