Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

[franz32]

Hello everyone! This Latin words "Nemo me impune lacessit" means no can attack me with impunity. What does it mean by it... I don't understand.

[selfAdjoint]

It's one of the mottos of Scotland. It means if you try to attack me, you'll suffer. Macho brag.

[quartodeciman]

It is the motto of the Montresor family in Poe's The Cask of Amontillado. There, revenge is indeed served cold.

http://www.literature.org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/amontillado.html

[franz32]

So, that's what the motto means... now I get it.

SOme statements that bothered me were found in the first paragraph of Montresor's narration:

1. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.

2. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to himwho has done the wrong.

Still, I don't understand these statements... I hope someone can help me.

[quartodeciman]

The sense is:
You don't get me without getting it back.

The impune applies to the nemo. So, nobody gets away with it, as far as this family is concerned. Vendetta is guaranteed.