Maxim 10.9.11
No simile runs on all fours.
Nullum simile quatuor pedibus currit.
Source: Co. Litt. 3; Jackson
Difficulty 2/5 — Approachable
Explanation
No analogy is perfect in every respect; every comparison breaks down at some point, and the law must attend to where the likeness ends.
Where this applies
- The analogy they're drawing breaks down at critical points.
- No comparison is perfect in every respect — every simile has its limits.
- Their analogy works in some ways but fails at the most important point.
Legal domains
See also
Cite this maxim
NeCede Max. 10.9.11 — No simile runs on all fours. — Co. Litt. 3; Jackson (Nullum simile quatuor pedibus currit.)
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