Nullum bellum iustum habetur nisi denuntiatum, nisi indictum
“No war is considered just unless it is announced and declared.”
Cicero, De officiis 1.36
What does “Nullum bellum iustum habetur nisi denuntiatum, nisi indictum” mean?
Nullum bellum iustum habetur nisi denuntiatum, nisi indictum translates as “No war is considered just unless it is announced and declared.”
Even war has rules. Attacking without warning was seen as unjust.
“Nullum bellum iustum habetur nisi denuntiatum, nisi indictum” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Nullum | no | accusative singular neuter (accusative case) of nullus, “no, none”; agrees with bellum |
| bellum | war | nominative singular neuter of bellum, “war”; subject of habetur |
| iustum | just | nominative singular neuter of iustus, “just, lawful”; agrees with bellum |
| habetur | is considered | present passive indicative, third person singular, of habeo, “I have, hold, consider” |
| nisi | unless | conjunction meaning “unless, except if” |
| denuntiatum | announced | perfect passive participle, nominative singular neuter, of denuntio, “I announce, give formal notice”; agrees with bellum (understood) |
| nisi | unless | conjunction, repeated for emphasis |
| indictum | declared | perfect passive participle, nominative singular neuter, of indico, “I declare, proclaim”; agrees with bellum (understood) |
How to pronounce “Nullum bellum iustum habetur nisi denuntiatum, nisi indictum”
The main differences are in nisi (classical s, church z-like), in the ti of denuntiatum (classical tee, church tsee) and in the c of indictum (hard k in the classical version, a softer c in church Latin).
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “no war is held just unless announced, unless declared”. The two participles, denuntiatum and indictum, are close in sense and are doubled for emphasis.
It comes from Cicero’s De officiis (On Duties), a work on right conduct written in 44 BC for his son. In book 1 he discusses justice, including how war should be waged, and notes that the ancient Roman law of war required a formal demand for redress and a formal declaration before fighting began.
Cicero’s point is that war is not a lawless free-for-all but an act with rules, and that a surprise attack without notice falls outside them. Later writers on the law of war, such as Grotius, drew on this Roman idea, and it echoes in modern debates about declarations of war and just war theory.
How to use “Nullum bellum iustum habetur nisi denuntiatum, nisi indictum”
It suits an essay or speech on the ethics or law of war, a history or politics caption, or a motto for someone who values fair play and acting openly. As a tattoo it is long and rather specific, so most people would choose a shorter line.
- Latin
- Nullum bellum iustum habetur nisi denuntiatum, nisi indictum
- English
- No war is considered just unless it is announced and declared.
- Source
- Cicero, De officiis 1.36
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Justice
Common mistakes
- It does not say all declared wars are just. It says an undeclared war cannot be just; declaration is a necessary condition, not a sufficient one.
- The line is Cicero’s account of Roman practice, not a general law of nations or a modern legal rule.
- The quote is often shortened to “Nullum bellum iustum”, which drops the condition and changes the meaning to “no war is just”.
- Nisi means “unless”, not “not”; mistaking it for a negation reverses the sense.
Questions about “Nullum bellum iustum habetur nisi denuntiatum, nisi indictum”
What does “Nullum bellum iustum habetur nisi denuntiatum, nisi indictum” mean?
“No war is considered just unless it has been announced and declared.” It states that a war needs formal notice before it can count as just.
Who said “Nullum bellum iustum habetur”?
It comes from Cicero’s De officiis 1.36, where he describes the Roman law of war.
Does Cicero say all declared wars are just?
No. A formal declaration is only a minimum requirement. Cicero also discusses just causes and conduct, so a declaration alone does not make a war just.
How do you pronounce “Nullum bellum iustum habetur”?
In classical Latin: NOOL-loom BEL-loom YOOS-toom hah-BAY-toor. Church Latin sounds nearly the same for these four words.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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