What phrase serves as the Assassin Brotherhood's central maxim in Assassin's Creed?

“Nothing is true; everything is permitted” serves as the Assassin Brotherhood's central maxim in Assassin's Creed.

The phrase expresses the series' recurring themes of skepticism, freedom, and responsibility. It does not simply mean that Assassins may act without limits; instead, it is presented as a warning that institutions and accepted beliefs should be questioned, while individuals remain accountable for their choices.

The maxim is associated with the historical Assassin tradition depicted throughout the games. Characters interpret it differently, and the stories often contrast the Assassins' emphasis on free will with the Templars' desire to impose peace through control.

The wording is sometimes confused with the three formal tenets of the Assassin's Creed: stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent, hide in plain sight, and never compromise the Brotherhood. The maxim and the tenets are related but are not the same thing.