“No obligation to do the impossible is binding.”
- January 3, 106 BC – December 7, 43 BC
- Roman
- Orator, Philosopher, Statesman, Lawyer, Author
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Quote
“No obligation to do the impossible is binding.”
Explanation
Cicero states a principle of both law and ethics: one cannot be held responsible for fulfilling an obligation that is literally impossible to perform. In such cases, the duty ceases to be valid because justice and reason demand that obligations must remain within human capacity. The quote asserts a limit to duty, emphasizing that moral and legal responsibility must be grounded in what is realistically achievable.
This idea reflects Cicero’s deep engagement with natural law and Roman legal theory, where fairness and rationality are central. For him, law is not a rigid set of commands but a reasoned guide to right conduct. To enforce an impossible obligation would not only be irrational, but also unjust, as it punishes beyond one’s power to act. Thus, Cicero upholds the principle that law and ethics must remain humane and practical.
In modern jurisprudence and moral philosophy, this quote continues to carry weight. It informs doctrines such as force majeure in contracts or moral impossibility in ethics, where responsibility is waived when performance is truly impossible. Cicero’s insight reminds us that justice must be tempered with reason, and that genuine duty ends where impossibility begins.
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