“In times of war, the law falls silent”
— Marcus Tullius Cicero
Simplified Meaning:
When there is conflict or war, the usual rules and protections that guide people's actions can be ignored or overlooked. During these times, what is normally considered illegal or immoral might happen more often because people are focused on survival or victory rather than following laws. For example, in a war zone, people might take food from abandoned houses to survive, even though taking someone else’s belongings would normally be considered stealing. This shows that in extreme situations like war, standard behavior changes and legal boundaries blur. This idea helps people understand that laws are usually created for peaceful times, and during chaos, those laws might not be followed strictly. To apply this idea in life, one can remember to seek understanding and compassion for those in desperate situations, realizing that their actions might be influenced by circumstances beyond their control.