There is no rule but has exceptions.凡是规律,都有例外。
此谚语如改用一般说法,就是There is no rule without exceptions或Every rule has exceptions。与此谚语句法相同的,还可举例如下:
There is no one but knows it.
此事无人不知。
There is no man but errs.
凡人都会犯错误。
There has not been a scholar but was a man of industry.
凡是有学问的人都是勤奋的。
此类谚语的意思是,所有科学规律只能概括一般现象,但例外是难免的。也有从另一角度来看的一句:
The exception proves the rule.
例外证实了规律。
(即:例外正足以证明规律的普遍性。)