The law takes no account of trifles. This is a maxim which relates to the ideal, rather than to the actual law. The tendency to attribute undue importance to mere matters of form—the failure to distinguish adequately between the material and the immaterial—is a characteristic defect of legal systems. See § 10.
9. Ex nudo pacto non oritur actio.
Cf. D. 2. 14. 7. 4: Nuda pactio obligationem non parit. C. 4. 65. 27: Ex nudo pacto ... actionem jure nostro nasci non potuisse.
In English law this maxim expresses the necessity of a legal consideration for the validity of a contract. Nudum pactum is pactum sine causa promittendi. In the civil law, however, the maxim means, on the contrary, that an agreement, to become binding, must fall within one of the recognised classes of legally valid contracts. There was no general principle that an agreement, as such, had the force of law. See § 124.
10. Ex turpi causa non oritur actio.
Cf. D. 47. 2. 12. 1: Nemo de improbitate sua consequitur actionem.
An agreement contrary to law or morals can give rise to no right of action in any party to it, either for the enforcement of it, or for the recovery of property parted with in pursuance of it. Cf. the maxim: In pari delicto potior est conditio defendentis. See § 124.
11. Ignorantia facti excusat, ignorantia juris non excusat.
Cf. D. 22. 6. 9. pr. Regula est juris quidem ignorantiam cuique nocere, facti vero ignorantiam non nocere. See §§ 146. 147.