Intent

Affectus punitur licet non sequatur effectus. The intention is punished even if the object is not achieved.
Animus ad se omne jus ducit. The mind brings every right unto itself. • Often explained: It is to the intention that all law applies.
Animus hominis est anima scripti. The intention of the person is the soul of the instrument.
Apiscimur (or adipiscimur) possessionem corpore et animo, neque per se animo aut per se corpore. We take possession by body and mind not by intention alone or merely by physical control. Dig. 41.2.3.1.
Benigne faciendae sunt interpretationes propter simplicitatem laicorum, ut res magis valeat quam pereat; et verba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservire. Constructions (of written instruments) are to be made liberally, for the simplicity of laymen, in order that the matter may have effect rather than fail (or become void); and words must be subject to the intention, not the intention to the words.
Benignius leges interpretandae sunt quo voluntas earum conservetur. Laws are to be more liberally interpreted so that their intent may be preserved.
Casus omissus pro omisso habendus est. A case omitted is to be held as (intentionally) omitted.
Certa debet esse intentio et narratio et certum fundamentum et certa res quae deducitur in judicium. The design and narration ought to be certain, the foundation certain, and the matter certain that is brought into court to be tried.
Contractus ad mentem partium verbis notatam intelligendus. A contract is to be understood according to the intention of the parties as expressed in words.
Contra legem facit qui id facit quod lex prohibit; in fraudem vero qui, salvis verbis legis, sententiam ejus circumvenit. A person acts contrary to the law who does what the law prohibits; a person acts in fraud of the law who, without violating the wording, circumvents the intention. Dig. 1.3.29.
Contrectatio rei alienae animo furandi est furtum. Touching or taking another’s property with an intention of stealing is theft.
Cum in verbis nulla ambiguitas est, non debet admitti voluntatis quaestio. When there is no ambiguity in the words, it should not be permitted to dispute the intentions. Dig. 32.25.1.
Dolo malo pactum se non servabit. A pact made with evil intent will not be upheld. • This maxim is sometimes written Dolo malo pactum se non servaturum (meaning “an agreement induced by fraud will not stand”).
Electio est interna libera et spontanea separatio unius rei ab alia, sine compulsione, consistens in animo et voluntate. Choice is an internal, free, and spontaneous separation of one thing from another, without compulsion, consisting in intention and will.
Electio semel facta, et placitum testatum, non patitur regressum. A choice once made, and a plea witnessed (or intent shown), allows no going back.
Falsa grammatica non vitiat concessionem. False or bad grammar does not vitiate a grant. • Neither false Latin nor false English will make a deed void when the intent of the parties plainly appears.
Felonia, ex vi termini, significat quodlibet capitale crimen felleo animo perpetratum. Felony, by force of the term, signifies any capital crime perpetrated with a malicious intent.
Fides est obligatio conscientiae alicujus ad intentionem alterius. Faith is an obligation of conscience of one to the will of another.
Fraudis interpretatio semper in jure civili, non ex eventu dumtaxat, sed ex consilio quoque desideratur. In civil law the interpretation of fraud is sought not only from the outcome but also from the intention. Dig. 50.17.79.
Furtum est contrectatio rei alienae fraudulenta, cum animo furandi, invito illo domino cujus res illa fuerat. Theft is the fraudulent handling of another’s property, with an intention of stealing, against the will of the proprietor, whose property it had been.
In ambigua voce legis ea potius accipienda est significatio quae vitio caret; praesertim cum etiam voluntas legis ex hoc colligi possit. In an ambiguous expression of the law, the meaning will be preferred that is free of defect, especially when the intent of the law can be gathered from it.
In atrocioribus delictis punitur affectus licet non sequatur effectus. In the more atrocious crimes, the intent (or attempt) is punished even if the effect does not follow.
In civilibus voluntas pro facto reputabitur. In civil cases the will (or intention) will be reckoned as the act.
In condicionibus primum locum voluntas defuncti obtinet, eaque regit condiciones. The decedent’s intent holds primary place in conditions and governs them. Dig. 35.1.19pr.
In conventionibus, contrahentium voluntas potius quam verba spectari placuit. In agreements, the intention of the contracting parties should be regarded more than their words.
In criminalibus sufficit generalis malitia intentionis cum facto paris gradus. In criminal cases, a general wickedness of intention is sufficient if combined with an act of equal or corresponding degree.
In criminalibus voluntas reputabitur pro facto. In criminal matters, the intent will be reckoned as the deed. • In criminal attempts or conspiracy, the intention is considered in place of the act. 3 Inst. 106.
In fraudem vero qui, salvis verbis legis, sententiam ejus circumvenit. Anyone who, observing the letter of the law, circumvents the law’s intent, acts in fraud of the law. Dig. 1.3.29.
In maleficiis voluntas spectatur, non exitus. In criminal offenses, the intention is regarded, not the event.
Intentio caeca mala. A concealed intention is an evil one.
Intentio inservire debet legibus, non leges intentioni. The intention ought to be subject to the laws, not the laws to the intention.
Intentio legitime cognita et legibus consentanea maxime habenda. An intention legitimately known and agreeable to the laws is to be especially regarded.
Intentio mea imponit nomen operi meo. My intent gives a name to my act.
In testamentis plenius testatoris intentionem scrutamur. In wills we diligently examine the testator’s intention.
In testamentis plenius voluntates testantium interpretantur. In wills the intentions of the testators are more fully (or liberally) construed.
In testamentis ratio tacita non debet considerari, sed verba solum spectari debent; adeo per divinationem mentis a verbis recedere durum est. In wills an unexpressed meaning ought not to be considered, but one must look to the words alone; so troublesome is it to depart from the words by guessing at the intention.
Lex non consilia nuda, sed actus apertos respicit. The law regards not mere intentions, but open acts.
Licet subtilitas iuris refragari videtur, attamen voluntas testatoris ex bono et aequo tuebitur. Though the subtlety of the law may pose an obstacle, nevertheless the intention of the testator will be preserved with regard to what is fair and equitable. Dig. 28.3.17.
Maleficia propositis distinguuntur. Misdeeds are distinguished from proposals; crimes are distinguished by the intention (with which they are committed).
Mens testatoris in testamentis spectanda est. In wills, the intention of the testator is to be regarded.
Non efficit affectus nisi sequatur effectus. The intention amounts to nothing unless some effect follows.
Non officit affectus nisi sequatur effectus. Sed in actrocioribus delictis punitur affectus, licet non sequatur effectus. The intention is not an offense unless an effect follow. But in the most atrocious crimes the intention is punished, although no effect follow.
Non solet exceptio doli nocere his quibus voluntas testatoris non refragatur. A fraud exception does not usually damage claims that are consistent with the testator’s intent. Dig. 50.17.19.1.
Novissima voluntas servatur. The latest intention is upheld. Dig. 34.4.6.2.
Omne actum ab intentione agentis est judicandum; a voluntate procedit causa vitii atque virtutis. Every act must be judged by the intention of the doer; the cause of vice and virtue proceeds from the will.
Ordo scripturae non impedit causam iuris ac voluntatis. The sequence of writing (and subsequent events) does not get in the way of the rights and the (original) intention. Dig. 31.77.12.
Peccat mens, non corpus, et unde consilium abfuit poena abest. The mind sins, not the body, and where there was no intent, there is no blame. Livy 1.58.9.
Quae in testamento legi possunt, ea inconsulta deleta et inducta, nihilominus valent; consulto, non valent. The things that can be read in a will, though deleted or canceled unintentionally, are nonetheless valid; if (deleted) intentionally, they are invalid. Dig. 28.4.1pr.
Quaelibet pardonatio debet capi secundum intentionem regis, et non ad deceptionem regis. Every pardon ought to be taken according to the intention of the king, and not to his deception.
Qui aliud dicit quam vult neque id quod vox significat, quia non vult, neque id quod vult, quia id non loquitur. One who says something other than what he wishes neither means what he says because it is not his intent, nor conveys his intent because he does not say it. Dig. 34.5.3.
Qui animo peccandi aliquid facit, videtur peccasse ab initio. He who does anything with the intention of transgressing, seems to have transgressed from the beginning.
Quicunque jussu judicis aliquid fecerit non videtur dolo malo fecisse, quia parere necesse est. Whoever does anything by command of a judge is not reckoned to have done it with evil intent, because it is necessary to obey.
Qui sciens solvit indebitum donandi consilio id videtur fecisse. A person who knowingly pays what is not due is considered to have done it with the intention of making a gift.
Quod primum est intentione ultimum est in operatione. That which is first in intention is last in operation.
Quod quis sciens indebitum dedit hac mente, ut postea repeteret, repetere non potest. What one has paid knowing that it is not owed, with the intention of reclaiming it afterwards, he cannot recover. Dig. 12.6.50.
Relatio est fictio juris et intenta ad unum. Relation is a fiction of law, and intended for one thing. • Coke explains, “Relatio is a fiction of law to make a nullity of a thing ab initio”; obstacles are removed for the one purpose, ut res magis valeat, that the matter have effect. 3 Coke 28.
Sapiens incipit a fine, et quod primum est in intentione, ultimum est in executione. A wise person begins from the end, and what is first in intention is last in execution.
Testamentum est voluntatis nostrae justa sententia, de eo quod quis post mortem suam fieri velit. A testament is the just expression of our will concerning that which anyone wishes done after his death. • Or, as Blackstone renders it, a testament is “the legal declaration of a man’s intentions which he wills to be performed after his death.” 2 Bl. Com. 499.
Testatoris ultima voluntas est perimplenda secundum veram intentionem suam. The last will of a testator is to be fulfilled according to his true intention.
Tolle voluntatem et erit omnis actus indifferens. Take away the will, and every action will be indifferent.
Ultima voluntas testatoris est perimplenda secundum veram intentionem suam. The last will of a testator is to be fulfilled according to his true intention.
Verba intentioni, et non e contra, debent inservire. Words should be subject to the intention, not the reverse.
Verba non tam intuenda quam causa et natura rei, ut mens contrahentium ex eis potius quam ex verbis appareat. The words (of a contract) are not to be looked to so much as the cause and nature of the matter, so that the intention of the contracting parties may appear from these rather than from the (mere) words.
Verba sunt indices animi. Words are indications of the intention.
Voluntas et propositum distinguunt maleficia. The will and the purpose distinguish crimes.
Voluntas in delictis non exitus spectatur. In offenses, the will and not the outcome is regarded.
Voluntas reputatur pro facto. The will is to be taken for the deed.
Voluntas ultima testatoris est perimplenda secundum veram intentionem suam. The last will of a testator is to be fulfilled according to his true intention.
Voluntatis defuncti quaestio in aestimatione iudicis est. The question of the intention of the deceased is for a judge to determine. CJ 6.42.7.