What avails in the lesser will avail in the greater; and what does not avail in the greater will not avail in the lesser.

Explanation

The argument from lesser to greater (and vice versa) is a fundamental rule of legal reasoning — what holds for a smaller matter holds a fortiori for a larger one.

Where this applies

• If this argument works for a small claim, shouldn't it work even more so for a larger one?
• A legal principle that applies to a minor case should apply with even greater force to a major one.