In times of war, the law falls silent.

Silent enim leges inter arma

We are in bondage to the law so that we might be free

The law is silent during war

To freemen, threats are impotent. [Lat., Nulla enim minantis auctoritas apud liberos est.]

Laws are inoperative in war

There exists a law, not written down anywhere, but inborn in our hearts, a law which comes to us not by training or custom or reading, a law which has come to us not from theory but from practice, not by instruction but by natural intuition. I refer to the law which lays down that, if our lives are endangered by plots or violence or armed robbers or enemies, any and every method of protecting ourselves is morally right.”