“In times of war, the laws fall silent”
— Marcus Tullius Cicero
Simplified Meaning:
When a war happens, rules and laws sometimes get ignored or forgotten because people are so focused on survival and winning. Imagine a town hit by a big disaster like a hurricane. Normally, shops have strict rules about prices, but after the hurricane, people might start charging a lot more for things because they know others are desperate to buy them. This isn’t fair, but in the chaos, the usual laws don't get followed. Similarly, during wars, leaders and soldiers might do things that are normally illegal or unethical because they’re more concerned about defeating the enemy than following the laws. This saying reminds us that during extreme situations, like war, the usual rules of right and wrong might be overlooked or broken. Understanding this can help people see why it's important to think carefully about how to protect laws and ethics, even in tough times.
