User blog comment:Il Lupo/The Mantra/@comment-1185827-20110427052011

"Nothing is true." Does that mean "Nothing is true" is itself untrue? That means everything is true, and basically defeats the purpose of the motto! :D So we'll let that circular logic slide. So, if 'nothing is true' then the phrase "Everything Is Permitted" cannot be true. That means there are certain things that cannot be permitted, even by the Assassins (eg harming innocents, exposing the brotherhood).

Also remember that the phrase comes from an archaic translation of the original Arabic: according to this very Wiki, the original translation is more like "Nothing is final, but all things are possible."