Translation
 

"Si vis pacem, para bellum."

I've been looking at this phrase and its gernerally accepted translation. Now, I'm not a Latin speaker but I do have good language sensibilities, and it has always seemed to me that something isn't quite right--the sticking point is the word "vis".

Having some time on my hands this evening, I did a little bit of poking around on the internet. Vis, in the context of its surrounding words, refers to seeing, or the root of the latin for face.

I would suggest that a more accurate translation, certainly a more poetic one, is: "If you would see peace, prepare for war."

--Dwight

Absolutely correct, Dwight.

Well,

Vis is dutch for fish,
Pacem sounds like pak 'em or 'get it' in dutch,

So I guess that in Dutch it would be like:

wanna catch fish? use parabellum.... :)

Gerben,
Mein Freund, Das ist gutt, Ven U Gottem ina Barrel ! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
ViggoG

Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit.
Vir bonus, dicendi peritus.

Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres.
(transliterate)

Amoto quaeramus seria ludo: Lugers. Assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit.

vis V 3 1 PRES ACTIVE IMP 2 S
viso, visere, visi, visus V
go to see, visit, look at;

Aw, c'mon! I haven't used Latin since high school, and that was just shortly after the fall of the Roman Empire (or at least it seems that way).

OK, Ron,
For you:

The fellow is either mad or he is a poet.
He's a good man, skilled in words.

As an accurate translator you will take care not to translate word for word.
(transliterate)

Joking aside, let us turn to serious matters: Lugers. Constant practice devoted to one subject often excells both intelligence and skill.

--------------------
Don't call me, I'll call you,
wes

Semen, dardago! Tousin busis inaro. Nojo, demis trux, summit cowsin, summit dux.

Thank you Wes. Non sum qualis eram.

Ron, In this Marcus Areilus quote, Vis is usually liberally translated "seek", rather than the literal would see or wish. Tom H.

And these above posts, Gentlemen, are the best argument for a Mono Linguistic Society that I have ever Perused ! :confused:
ViggoG

Not at all. Learn Latin and you gain a clearer insight into English and every other Romance language.

That's why I chose Latin in high school and my first year at college, over more 'practical' ones like Spanish or German. Wish I'd kept up with it.

Pelorat,
I totally agree to the extent that any knowledge is good.
I do not agree that One, or many, who take "Willing" advantage of of living in a Free Society are allowed to demand that the majority of the "Free Society" be forced to become multi lingual and abandon their native Language to accept a polygot of intermixed languages which requires much of their precious educational time at the expense of the other education that prepares one to excell in their own chosen field.
ViggoG <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

:confused: :confused: :confused:

Eh? Where'd that come from?

All I was talking about was exactly what I stated, learn Latin and you will have an easier time learning English, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, and a few others that I'm probably missing.

Nothing else, implicit or explicit.

Aside, perhaps, from the fact that learning is a Good Thing.

The study of language, history, literature, science, etc., will direct you to the study of Latin and Greek, with no demands or force, if you are a curious student.
Be happy that our physicians, scholars, and scientists are not compelled to comply to the lowest common denominator.

As an aside: The fully engaged, active, inquisitive, occupied, challenged mind excels at everything that it attempts. If too much intellectual activity hinders one from succeeding, one has not developed an agile mind.

Wes,
I must admit that as an old fart, I think I am beginning to like you and your attitude.
Tom A

You English think you invented the language! And even I know that Fries are French.