When the law is against you, argue the facts. When the facts are against you, argue the law–when both are against you, change the subject.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Switching between law, facts and finally the subject pictures argumentative evasion. The saying satirises choosing whichever ground seems most convenient.

What the words are saying

The sequence is a joke rather than legal advice or an endorsed method of misleading a decision-maker. A useful interpretation can ask whether a discussion addresses relevant evidence and principles instead of changing focus to avoid difficulty. It supplies no account of any jurisdiction or particular case.

Everyday example

A reader notices a speaker avoiding both relevant evidence and the issue’s stated principles.

When to use it

Use it to explain the evasion satire without adopting it as a tactic.

Put a useful idea into practice: try the free seven-day guide ↗

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.