Summum ius, summa iniuria
“The highest law, the highest injustice.”
Cicero, De officiis 1.33
What does “Summum ius, summa iniuria” mean?
Summum ius, summa iniuria translates as “The highest law, the highest injustice.”
Applying the law too rigidly can create injustice. Rules need fairness and common sense.
“Summum ius, summa iniuria” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Summum | highest, extreme | neuter nominative singular of summus, “highest, utmost”, the superlative of superus; agrees with ius |
| ius | law, right | neuter nominative singular of ius, “law, legal right”; subject of an understood “is” |
| summa | highest, extreme | feminine nominative singular of summus, agreeing with iniuria |
| iniuria | injustice, wrong | feminine nominative singular of iniuria, “injustice, wrong”; the predicate noun |
How to pronounce “Summum ius, summa iniuria”
Both pronunciations sound essentially the same here. Stress the first syllable of summum and summa, and the second-to-last syllable of iniuria. Ius is a single syllable with a y-sound at the start. In Classical Latin the i of iniuria before u also has a y-sound.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “the highest law, the highest injustice”. There is no verb, which gives it the compact, punchy feel of a proverb: the more extreme the law, the more extreme the wrong.
Cicero quotes it in De officiis (On Duties), his work on right conduct, where he calls it an already familiar saying. He uses it to warn against clever readings of the law that follow its letter but betray its spirit.
The line is still quoted in discussions of legal fairness, often in its English form “the more law, the less justice” or as a call for equity and common sense over rigid rule-following.
How to use “Summum ius, summa iniuria”
Fits a talk, essay or caption about fairness, bureaucracy or the limits of strict rules. It also works as a motto for lawyers, judges and students of law, or as a tattoo for anyone who values justice over legalism.
- Latin
- Summum ius, summa iniuria
- English
- The highest law, the highest injustice.
- Source
- Cicero, De officiis 1.33
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Justice
Common mistakes
- It does not mean that law is bad. It warns against applying the law so rigidly that the result is unfair.
- Ius (law, right) is not the same as lex (a specific statute), and iniuria means injustice or wrong, not only physical injury.
- The sentence has no verb. Adding est (“is”) is possible but changes the famous form.
Questions about “Summum ius, summa iniuria”
What does “Summum ius, summa iniuria” mean literally?
“The highest law, the highest injustice.” It means that extreme strictness in applying the law can produce the greatest injustice.
Who said “Summum ius, summa iniuria”?
Cicero quotes it in De officiis 1.33, where he treats it as a familiar proverb rather than his own invention.
How do you pronounce “Summum ius, summa iniuria”?
Classically: SOOM-moom YOO-s SOOM-mah in-YOO-ree-ah. The Church pronunciation sounds almost identical.
Is “Summum ius, summa iniuria” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. It is correct classical Latin with the verb understood, and it is a well-attested saying.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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