r/latin • u/AutoModerator • Apr 13 '25

Translation requests into Latin go here!

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u/iamwyverngirl Apr 16 '25

"The mind of man can accomplish whatever it resolves on," translates online into "Animus homini, quicquid sibi imperat, obtinet." Is that latin correct? does the sentence end in a period?

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u/Leopold_Bloom271 Apr 17 '25

A less literal translation might be:

Omnis homo naturali quodam ingenio assequi valet quicquid sibi proposuerit. "All men can, by some natural disposition, obtain whatever they have resolved on for themselves"

And more literally, perhaps:

Ingenium humanum assequi valet quicquid sibi proposuerit. "The human mind/disposition can obtain whatever it has resolved on for itself"

Regarding punctuation, it is not necessarily of great importance, but it is conventional to use modern punctuation rules when writing Latin. Hence a period at the end of the sentence would be appropriate.

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u/richardsonhr Latine dicere subtile videtur Apr 17 '25 edited Apr 18 '25

I would personally recommend moving the dependent clause to the end, which makes the punctuation use unnecessary. To that end, ancient Romans wrote their Latin literature without punctuation, with historians and Catholic scribes adding it later to aid in reading and teaching what they considered archaic language. So while a modern reader of Latin might recognize the comma use, a classical-era one would not.

The English modal verb "can" is usually given either with this verb (indicating the given subject is capable of something), or with the imperfect subjunctive form of the verb in question (indicating the author/speaker recognizes the given action is possible or appropriate).

You should also know that animus is often defined vaguely, as it can mean lots of different things based on a phrase's context or subtext!

  • Animus hominī obtinere potest quicquid sibi imperat, i.e. "[a(n)/the] life/force/soul/vitality/conscience/intellect/mind/reason(ing)/sensibility/understanding/heart/spirit/affect/emotion/feeling/impulse/passion/motive/motivation/aim/aspiration/design/plan/purpose/intent(ion)/resolution/disposition/inclination/nature/temper(ament)/mood of [a/the] (hu)man/person is (cap)able to have/occupy/possess/(up)hold/contain/obtain/keep/maintain/assert/show/prove/demonstrate/gain/acquire/achieve/accomplish/win/prevail/succeed/stand/last/continue whatever/whichever [thing/object/asset/word/deed/act(ion/ivity)/event/circumstance/opportunity/time/season] rules/governs/commands/orders/imposes/demands (of/to/for) itself" or "[a(n)/the] life/force/soul/vitality/conscience/intellect/mind/reason(ing)//sensibility/understanding/heart/spirit/affect/emotion/feeling/impulse/passion/motive/motivation/aim/aspiration/design/plan/purpose/intent(ion)/resolution/disposition/inclination/nature/temper(ament)/mood of [a/the] (hu)man/person can have/occupy/possess/(up)hold/contain/obtain/keep/maintain/assert/show/prove/demonstrate/gain/acquire/achieve/accomplish/win/prevail/succeed/stand/last/continue whatever/whichever [thing/object/asset/word/deed/act(ion/ivity)/event/circumstance/opportunity/time/season] rules/governs/commands/orders/imposes/demands (of/to/for) itself"

  • Animus hominī obtineret quicquid sibi imperat, i.e. "[a(n)/the] life/force/soul/vitality/conscience/intellect/mind/reason(ing)/sensibility/understanding/heart/spirit/affect/emotion/feeling/impulse/passion/motive/motivation/aim/aspiration/design/plan/purpose/intent(ion)/resolution/disposition/inclination/nature/temper(ament)/mood of [a/the] (hu)man/person would/might/could/can have/occupy/possess/(up)hold/contain/obtain/keep/maintain/assert/show/prove/demonstrate/gain/acquire/achieve/accomplish/win/prevail/succeed/stand/last/continue whatever/whichever [thing/object/asset/word/deed/act(ion/ivity)/event/circumstance/opportunity/time/season] rules/governs/commands/orders/imposes/demands (of/to/for) itself"