necessity knows no law

English

Proverb

necessity knows no law

A person who is in great need of something will find a way to obtain it, and violate the law if needed.
necessity knows no law, there is no pity and no mercy in war
- 1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:
  "Necessity knows no law."

Synonyms

needs must when the devil drives

Translations

a person who is in great need of something will find a way to get it, and break the law if needed

Dutch: nood breekt wet
Finnish: hätä ei lue lakia
French: nécessité fait loi (fr)
German: Not kennt kein Gesetz, Not kennt kein Gebot (de), Not bricht Gebot
Hungarian: nagy úr a muszáj, szükség törvényt bont
Polish: tonący brzytwy się chwyta (pl) (roughly)
Spanish: please add this translation if you can
Swedish: nöden har ingen lag

See also

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