From: Mark Roberts
knarftheria...@gmail.com wrote:
Perhaps this is the exception that proves the rule (that's actually
one of the most stupid sayings ever) but yours works.
Actually it's not a stupid expression, just a misunderstood one (and
you, Frank, with your legal background, ought to know about it).
It's a legal maxim that dates back to Rome - the famed orator Cicero
is the first know reference.
Basically, it means that the act of specifying an exception to a
rule proves that such a rule exists even if said rule isn't
explicitly stated. Here's a concrete example: In many states in the
U.S. traffic law allows you to make a right turn at a red light
(after coming to a stop). But not all states permit this, so the
issue when traveling across country is determining whether the state
you're in allows it. The presence of a sign that says "No right turn
on red" is what you look for. The exception (the sign that says "No
right turn on red") proves the rule (that in general you *can* turn
right on red).
FWIW, according to the driver training syllabus provided by the Army
Safety Center before I retired, "right turn on red" was the law in all
50 states.
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