Literal Translation
Law does not compel the doing of impossibilities.
Definition
This legal maxim is of the latin origin meaning the law does not compel you to do anything vain or impossible. It is a very old maxim that was discussed by Justice Owen in Hughey v. JMS Development, meaning laws do not compel a man to do something he cannot possibly perform. Here, the word “lex” literally means a system of law, “non” means does not, “cogit” means to compel, “ad” means to, and “impossibilia” means impossible.