The laws sometimes sleep, but never die.

Explanation

A law may fall into disuse or be suspended in extraordinary times, but it is not thereby repealed — when the occasion returns, the dormant law awakens with full force.

Where this applies

• An old law has not been used in decades but is suddenly invoked.
• Someone argues a law is dead because it has not been enforced in years.

See also

• 1.5.21 The reason of the law ceasing, the law itself ceases.
• 1.7.11 Where there is no law, there is no transgression.