The law judges a man's previous intentions by his subsequent acts.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) A man's earlier intentions are illuminated by his later deeds — invoke this maxim to demonstrate that subsequent conduct confirms or contradicts the intent claimed at the time of the original act.

Where this applies

• A contractor claims he always intended to complete the renovation, but his subsequent act of abandoning the job site and taking another contract proves his original intent was not genuine.
• A borrower says she fully intended to repay the loan, but her subsequent transfer of all assets to a relative's name reveals that her true plan was to avoid the debt.
• A politician claims he supported the bill from the start, but his subsequent vote against it and public opposition show his earlier stated intentions were not sincere.