οἷς πρόθεσίς ἐστιν ἀδικεῖν, παρ' αὐτοῖς οὐδὲ δικαία ἀπολογία ἰσχύει → not even a just excuse means anything to those bent on injustice | the tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny | any excuse will serve a tyrant
rāmŭlus: i, m.
dim. ramus,
I a little branch or bough, a twig, sprig, Cato, R. R. 101; Cic. Div. 1, 54, 123; Plin. 24, 15, 81, § 132; 27, 12, 88, § 111 al.