Sayings

Ignorance of the law is no excuse

This page is about the saying "Ignorance of the law is no excuse"

Possible meaning:
It is no defence to say that we didn't know that something we did was illegal.

Note:
ignorance (noun) = lack of knowledge | the law (noun) = the system of rules recognized and enforced in a particular country | excuse (noun) = a reason or explanation given to defend a (wrong) action

Quick Quiz

If "ignorance of the law is no excuse", a judge is most likely to find someone not-guilty if he can prove that

a. he didn't know that what he did was wrong

b. he didn't do what he was accused of

c. he thought the law did not apply to him
a) he didn't know that what he did was wrong b) he didn't do what he was accused of c) he thought the law did not apply to him

See Saying of the Day today

Contributor: Josef Essberger