Might knows no right.
Might knows no right.
Meaning in plain English
Having power does not establish that an action is fair. Assess the claim and its consequences rather than treating someone’s ability to impose a decision as its justification.
Example
A dominant committee member can end discussion, but the group still asks for evidence and follows its agreed voting procedure before making the decision.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The saying separates strength from right. A powerful party may be able to obtain an outcome without having a sound reason for it. In a dispute, the question of what can be enforced should not replace the question of what is justified. Fair procedures and clear reasons can make that distinction visible. The proverb is a warning about power used without justice, not a prediction that every powerful person acts wrongly. A justified decision may still require authority to carry it out.
When to use it
Use it when a capacity to impose an outcome substitutes for a reason.
Keep in mind
Power and a justified claim can coincide. Evaluate the actual decision rather than presuming that strength alone makes it wrong.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 19; French section, paragraph 373; source wording: Force n’a pas droit.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗