Circumstances alter cases

Proverbial Meaning: Sometimes when you behave badly or out of turn the situation may be partially at fault, or at least your behaviour may be somewhat excusable.

Literal Origins: In a court of law the circumstances surrounding a crime can alter the outcome of a case. In fact the circumstances can change sufficiently so that the same act is not a crime in a particular situation. Perhaps the most obvious, and brutal, example is a comparison between a murderer and a soldier killing for their country.

Common Usage: This is not a widely used proverb, some people may paraphrase with: ‘Depends on the circumstances’ (when taking a situation into account), but the phrase itself is practically unheard of as a proverb.