Acts required to be done by law do not admit of qualification.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) When the law mandates a specific act — such as recording a deed or filing within a deadline — no party may attach conditions or qualifications to the performance; it must be done precisely as the law commands.

Where this applies

• A county clerk refuses to record a deed unless the filer pays an extra unofficial fee, but the law requires recording upon presentation and payment of the statutory fee — no additional conditions allowed.
• A defendant argues he filed his appeal 'substantially on time' but a day late; the court holds that the statutory deadline admits no qualification — it was due by the date, period.
• A building inspector tries to attach conditions to issuing a permit that the code doesn't authorize; the applicant shows the code requires issuance once the listed requirements are met, with no room for extras.