Chapter 11: Virtue

Nihil (indeclinable noun): nothing. Enim (particle): for, indeed. # indeed% Alius/alia/ aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another. Est: is. Virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue; courage. Quam (rel. adv.): than. Rēctus/ rēcta /rēctum (1/2): straight; right. Ratiō, ratiōnis (3f): reason; method; calculation. (For virtue is nothing other than right reason.)

Citō (adv.): quickly; soon. Hic/haec/ hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Potest is the third person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. Trādī is the passive infinitive form of trādō, trādere, trādidī, trāditum (3): to hand over, deliver; surrender; hand down; relate. Et (conj.): and. Paucissimīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of paucissimus/paucissima/paucissimum (1/2): very few/fewest—the superlative form of paucus/pauca/paucum (1/2): (in sg. , rare) little; (in pl. , the more frequent usage) few. Verbīs is the ablative plural form of verbum, verbī (2n): word. (This can be related quickly and with very few words. . .)

Ūnum is the m/n accusative singular form of ūnus/ūna/ūnum (1/2, irreg.): one. Bonum is the accusative singular form of bonum, bonī (2n): a good thing, a good. Esse: to be. Virtūtem is the accusative singular form of virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue; courage; strength; power. Nūllum is the m/n accusative singular form of nūllus/nūlla/nūllum (1/2, irreg.): not any, no, none. Certē (adv.): certainly; at any rate. Sine (prep.): without (takes the ablative). Virtūte is the ablative singular form of virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue; courage; strength; power. (Virtue to be the one good, at any rate (there to be) none without virtue—i.e., that virtue is the one good, or at any rate there is no good without virtue. . .)

Et (conj.): and. Ipsam is the feminine accusative singular form of ipse/ipsa/ipsum (adj.): himself/herself/itself/myself/etc. ; in person; the very. Virtūtem is the accusative singular form of virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue; courage; strength; power. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Parte is the ablative singular form of pars, partis (3f): part; party. Nostrī is the genitive form of nōs: we (of us). Meliōre is the m/f/n ablative singular form of melior/melior/melius (3): better—the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonus (1/2): good. Is/ea/ id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Est: is. Ratiōnālī is the m/f/n ablative singular form of ratiōnālis/ratiōnālis/ratiōnāle (3): rational. Positam is the feminine accusative singular form of positus/posita/positum (1/2), the perfect passive participle (placed) of pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positum (3): to place, put. (. . . and virtue itself (to be) placed—i.e., that virtue itself is placed—in the better part of us, that is, the rational.)

Quis/quis/ quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Erit: will (it) be—the third person singular future form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Hic/ haec /hoc (adj.): this. Virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue; courage; strength; power. Iūdicium, iūdiciī (2n): judgment, opinion; trial. Vērus/vēra/ vērum (1/2): true; real. Et (conj.): and. Inmōtus/inmōta/ inmōtum (1/2—also immōtus): immovable; steadfast. (What will this virtue be? True and steadfast judgment.)

Ab /ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Hōc is the m/n ablative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Impetūs is the nominative plural form of impetus, impetūs (4m): impulse; attack, assault. Venient is the third person plural future form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Mēns, mentis (3f): mind. (For from this impulses of the mind will come. . .)

Ab /ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Hōc is the m/n ablative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Omnis/ omnis /omne (3): all; every. Speciēs, speciēī (5f): external appearance; type, kind. Quī/ quae /quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Impetum is the accusative singular form of impetus, impetūs (4m): impulse; attack, assault. Movet is the third person singular form of moveō, movēre, mōvī, mōtum (2): to move, stir, set in motion; stir up, cause, provoke. Redigētur is the third person singular future passive form of redigō, redigere, redēgī, redāctum (3): to drive, lead or bring back; reduce to order; bring within a certain extent. Ad (prep.): to, toward; according to (takes the accusative). Liquidum is the m/n accusative singular form of liquidus/liquida/liquidum (1/2): liquid; clear, transparent (neuter used substantively). (. . . from this every appearance that stirs an impulse will be reduced to transparent/transparency.)

Nunc (adv.): now; as it is. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Quantus/ quanta /quantum (1/2, interrog. adj.): how great? how much? Dēmentia, dēmentiae (1f): madness, insanity. Est: is. Hominum is the genitive plural form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human. (For as it is, how great is the madness of humans!)

Turpissima is the neuter accusative plural form of turpissimus/turpissima/turpissimum (1/2): ugliest; vilest, most disgraceful, most shameful; it’s the superlative form of turpis/turpis/turpe (3): ugly; vile, disgraceful, shameful. Vōta is the accusative plural form of vōtum, vōtī (2n): vow; prayer; desire, wish. Dīs is the dative plural form of deus, deī (2m, irreg.): god. Īnsusurrant is the third person plural form of īnsusurrō, īnsusurrāre, īnsusurrāvī, īnsusurrātum (1): to whisper. (They whisper the most shameful prayers to the gods. . .)

Sī (conj.): if. Quis /qua/quid (indef. pron): (in some clauses, especially after sī, nisi, num and nē) anyone, anything; someone, something. Admōverit is the third person singular future perfect form of admoveō, admovēre, admōvī, admōtum (2): to move to; bring nearer; (with aurem) lend an ear. Aurem is the accusative singular form of auris, auris (3f): ear. Conticēscent is the third person plural future form of conticēscō, conticēscere, conticuī, — (3): to fall silent. (. . . if anyone brings an ear, they will fall silent.)

Et (conj.): and. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know. Hominem is the accusative singular form of homō, hominis (3m): human, man. Nōlunt is the third person plural form of nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg.): to not want, be unwilling, refuse. Deō is the dative singular form of deus, deī (2m, irreg.): god, deity. Nārrant is the third person plural form of nārrō, nārrāre, nārrāvī, nārrātum (1): to narrate, report, tell. (And what they don’t want a man to know, they tell to god.)

Vidē is the singular imperative form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Ergō (particle): therefore, then. Nē (conj. , with subjunctive): that not, lest; after vidē the translation can sometimes be whether/if. . . not. Hic/haec/ hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Praecipī is the passive infinitive form of praecipiō, praecipere, praecēpī, praeceptum (3, –iō): to take in advance; advise; order, command. Salūbriter (adv.): wholesomely, healthfully. Possit is the third person singular subjunctive form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. (See, then, whether this might not be able to be advised healthfully. . .)

Sīc (adv.): thus, so, in such manner. Vīve is the singular imperative form of vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctum (3): to live. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Hominibus is the ablative plural form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human. Tamquam (conj.): as if (with subjunctive). Sīc. . . tamquam = so. . . as if; i.e., in the manner that you would if. Deus, deī (2m): god. Videat is the third person singular subjunctive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Loquere is the singular imperative form of loquor, loquī, locūtus sum (3, deponent): to speak. Deō is the ablative singular form of deus, deī (2m): god. Hominēs is the nominative plural form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human. Audiant is the third person plural subjunctive form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear, listen (the verbs are subjunctive because they’re in conditional clauses of comparison introduced by tamquam). (So live with humans as if God were seeing; so speak with God as if humans were listening.)

Quis/quis/ quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Est: is. Sapientia, sapientiae (1f): wisdom. Semper (adv.): always. Idem is the neuter accusative singular form of īdem/eadem/idem (pron.): the same. Volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to wish, want; be willing. Atque /ac (conj.): and, and also. Nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg.): to not want, refuse. (What is wisdom? Always to want the same and to not want the same.)

Licet, licēre, licuit/licitum est (2): it is allowed; one is permitted, one can, one may (impersonal; appears mostly in the third person singular; it can be completed by a subjunctive verb). Illam is the feminine accusative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Exceptiunculam is the accusative singular form of exceptiuncula, exceptiunculae (1f): exception, restriction, small limitation (a diminutive of exceptiō). Nōn: not. Adiciās is the second person singular subjunctive form of adiciō, adicere, adiēcī, adiectum (3, –iō): to throw (at); add. (It is allowed (that) you not add that little limitation. . .)

Ut (conj. , with subjunctive): that, so that. Rēctus/rēcta/ rēctum (1/2): straight; right. Sit is the third person singular subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Velīs is the second person singular subjunctive form of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to want, wish; be willing (attracted into the subjunctive because this clause depends on the ut clause). (. . . that what you want be right.)

Nōn: not. Potest is the third person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Cuiquam is the m/f/n dative singular form of quisquam/quidquam (pron. ; the neuter form is also spelled quicquam): anyone, anything. Īdem/eadem/ idem (pron.): the same. Semper (adv.): always. Placeō, placēre, placuī, placitum (2): to be pleasing, seem good, please, satisfy (takes a dative object). Nisi (conj.): if not, unless; except. Rēctus/rēcta/ rēctum (1/2): straight; right. (For the same thing cannot always be pleasing to anyone unless right.)

Sīc (adv.): thus, so, in such manner, in this way. Maximē (adv.): most; especially. Coarguitur is the third person singular passive form of coarguō, coarguere, coarguī, coargūtum (3): to refute; convict, prove guilty; show, prove, demonstrate (usually something bad). Animus, animī (2m): mind, soul; will, intention. Inprūdēns, inprūdentis (3, adj.): ignorant; imprudent, foolish. (In this way a foolish mind is especially demonstrated. . .)

Alius /alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another (alius. . . alius: one. . . another). Prōdit is the third person singular form of prōdeō, prōdīre, prōdiī, prōditum (3): to come forward, proceed, come forth; appear. Atque /ac (conj.): and, and also, and then. Alius /alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another. (. . . it appears (to be) one and then another. . .)

Et (conj.): and. Quō is the m/n ablative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Turpius is the neuter accusative singular form of turpior/turpior/turpius (3): uglier, more foul; more shameful, more disgraceful—the comparative form of turpis/turpis/turpe (3): ugly, foul; shameful, disgraceful. Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun, here accusative): nothing. Iūdicō, iūdicāre, iūdicāvī, iūdicātum (1): to judge; decide. (. . . and, which I judge nothing more shameful than. . .)

Impār, imparis (3): unequal, uneven; dissimilar. Sibi: to itself—the dative form of the reflexive pronoun. Est: it is. (. . . it is dissimilar to itself.)

Magnam is the feminine accusative singular form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large; important. Rem is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. Putā is the singular imperative form of putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum (1): to suppose, think, judge, consider. Ūnum is the m/n accusative singular form of ūnus/ūna/ūnum (1/2): one; alone; only, sole, single. Hominem is the accusative singular form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human, person. Agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3): to drive, set in motion; do, perform; act (as). (Consider it a great thing to act as one person.)

Beneficiīs is the ablative plural form of beneficium, beneficiī (2n): a kindness, favor, benefit. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Hūmānus/ hūmāna /hūmānum (1/2): human; humane. Vīta, vītae (1f): life. Cōnstat is the third person singular form of cōnstō, cōnstāre, cōnstitī, cōnstātūrus (1): to stand together; stand firm; be consistent, be in agreement with; consist (of something expressed in the ablative); be based upon (something in the ablative); exist; cost (with ablative of price). Et (conj.): and. Concordiā is the ablative singular form of concordia, concordiae (1f): an agreeing together; harmony, union. (For human life is based on kindnesses and harmony. . .)

Nec (conj.): and not, neither, nor. Terrōre is the ablative singular form of terror, terrōris (3m): great fear, terror, dread. Sed (conj.): but. Mūtuō is the m/n ablative singular form of mūtuus/mūtua/mūtuum (1/2): borrowed; mutual, reciprocal. Amōre is the ablative singular form of amor, amōris (3m): love. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Foedus is the accusative singular form of foedus, foederis (3n): agreement, contract. Auxiliumque: auxilium is the accusative singular form of auxilium, auxiliī (2n): help, aid, assistance (the enclitic conjunction – que adds and). Commūne is the neuter accusative singular form of commūnis/commūnis/commūne (1/2): shared, common, universal; for all; of the community. Cōnstringitur is the third person singular passive form of cōnstringō, cōnstringere, cōnstrīnxī, cōnstrictum (3): to draw together, bind together; tie up. (. . . and not by terror but by mutual love is it drawn together into an agreement and shared assistance.)

Sīc (adv.): thus, so, in such manner. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Īnferiōre is the m/f/n (here m) ablative singular form of īnferior/īnferior/īnferius (1/2): lower; inferior (in context he is talking about slaves)—the comparative form of īnferus/īnfera/īnferum (1/2): situated below. Vīvās is the second person singular subjunctive form of vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctum (3): to live (subjunctive because it’s a mild command, or a piece of advice). (So live with an inferior. . .)

Quemadmodum (rel. adv.): how, in what manner, as. Sīc. . . quemadmodum = so. . . as, in the same way as. Tēcum: with you (tē = you; cum = with). Superiōrem is the m/f (here m) accusative singular form of superior/superior/superius (3): higher; superior—the comparative form of superus/supera/superum (1/2): situated above. Velīs is the second person singular subjunctive form of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to want, wish (subjunctive because it’s potential). Vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctum (3): to live. (. . . as you would wish a superior to live with you.)

Interim (adv.): meanwhile, in the meantime. Dum (conj.): while, so long as; provided that; until. Trahimus is the first person plural form of trahō, trahere, trāxī, tractum (3): to pull, drag, draw (the object spīritum —the accusative singular form of spīritus, spīritūs (4m): breath—is implied from the previous sentence, where it was mentioned). Inter (prep.): among; between; during (takes the accusative). Hominēs is the accusative plural form of homo, hominis (3m): man, human being. Sumus: we are. Colāmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of colō, colere, coluī, cultum (3): to cultivate; practice; worship; cherish (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). Hūmānitātem is the accusative singular form of hūmānitās, hūmānitātis (3f): humanity; kindness; civilization. (In the meantime, so long as we draw (it/breath), so long as we are among humans, let us cherish humanity.)

Nōn: not. Timōrī is the dative singular form of timor, timōris (3m): fear, dread. Cuiquam is the m/f/n dative singular form of quisquam/quidquam (pron. . ; the neuter form is also spelled quicquam): anyone, anything. (This is a case of the so-called double dative: a dative of purpose combined with a dative of reference—here followed next by another dative of purpose.) Perīculō is the dative singular form of perīculum, perīculī (2n): danger, risk; experiment. Sīmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). (Let us not be a source of terror to anyone, not a source of danger. . .)

Dētrīmenta is the accusative plural form of dētrīmentum, dētrīmentī (2n): detriment, harm; loss. Iniūriās is the accusative plural form of iniūria, iniūriae (1f): injury, harm, wrong, injustice. Convīcia is the accusative plural form of convīcium, convīciī (2n): outcry; censure, insult. Vellicātiōnēs is the accusative plural form of vellicātiō, vellicātiōnis (3f): carping criticism. Contemnāmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of contemnō, contemnere, contempsī, contemptum (3): to despise; not fear (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). (Let us despise losses, injuries, insults, criticisms. . .) Et (conj.): and. Magnō is the m/n ablative singular form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large; important. Animō is the ablative singular form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul, spirit; will, intention. Brevia is the neuter accusative plural form of brevis/brevis/breve (3): short, brief. Ferāmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum (3, irreg.): to carry, bear; endure (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). Incommoda is the accusative plural form of incommodum, incommodī (2n): detriment, disadvantage; trouble, misfortune; inconvenience, discomfort. (. . . and let us bear (our) brief troubles with a great mind/spirit.)

Nec (adv.): and not, neither, nor. Potest is the third person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. Quisquam /quidquam (pron. ; the neuter form is also spelled quicquam): anyone, anything. Beātē (adv.): happily. Dēgō, dēgere, dēgī, — (3): to pass time, spend one’s life, live (in a certain manner or place). (Nor is anyone able to live happily. . .)

Quī /quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Sē: himself—the accusative form of the reflexive pronoun. Tantum (adv.): so much; only. Intuētur is the third person singular form of intueor, intuērī, intuitus sum (2, deponent): to look at; consider, give attention to. (. . . who only pays attention to himself. . .)

Quī /quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Omnia is the neuter accusative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every; (n. pl. used substantively) all things, everything. Ad (prep.): to, toward (takes the accusative). Ūtilitātēs is the accusative plural form of ūtilitās, ūtilitātis (3f): utility; advantage, interest. Suās: his (own)—the feminine accusative plural form of suus/sua/suum (1/2). Convertit is the third person singular form of convertō, convertere, convertī, conversum (3): to turn, direct; reverse. (. . . who turns everything toward his own interests. . .)

Alterī is the m/f/n (here m) dative singular form of alter/altera/alterum (1/2, irreg.): the other; another. Vīvās is the second person singular subjunctive form of vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctum (3): to live. Oportet, oportēre, oportuit, — (2, impersonal): it is right, it is proper, it is necessary (can be completed by a subjunctive verb). (It can often be turned into a personal construction in translation; e. g. , vīvās oportet = it is necessary (that) you live = you should/must/ought to live.) Sī (conj.): if. Vīs is the second person singular form of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to wish, want. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you (for you, for yourself). Vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctum (3): to live. (. . . it is necessary (that) you live for the other if you want to live for yourself.)

Epicūrus, Epicūrī (2m): Epicurus (founder of the Epicurean school of philosophy, with which Stoicism often was at odds). Ait is the third person singular form of aiō (3, defective): to say. Nōn: not. Accēdet is the third person singular future form of accēdō, accēdere, accessī, accessum (3): to come toward, approach, involve oneself with. Ad (prep.): to, toward (takes the accusative). Rem is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. ; Pūblicam is the feminine accusative singular form of pūblicus/pūblica/pūblicum (1/2): public, of the state (rēs pūblica = the state, or public affairs). Sapiēns, sapientis (3m): wise man, sage. (Epicurus says: The wise man will not approach/involve himself in a public affair. . .)

Nisi (conj.): unless, if not; except. Sī (conj.): if. Quis/qua/ quid (indef. pron.): (in certain types of clauses, especially after sī, nisi, num and nē) someone, something; anyone, anything. Intervēnerit is the third person singular future perfect form of interveniō, intervenīre, intervēnī, interventum (4): to arrive during the course of an activity, come on the scene; intervene, come between; interrupt, interfere; happen. (. . . except if something will have interfered/intervened. . .)

Zenōn, Zenōnis (3m—also Zenō): Zeno of Citium (the Cypriot founder of Stoicism). Ait: says (see above). Accēdet ad rem pūblicam: he will approach/involve himself in public affairs (see above). Nisi sī quid: except if something (see above). Impedierit is the third person singular future perfect form of impediō, impedīre, impedīvī/impediī, impedītum (4): to hinder, impede, obstruct, thwart. (Zeno says: He will approach/involve himself in public affairs, except if something will have impeded (him).)

Hic/haec/ hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Nempe (particle): indeed, certainly, of course. Ab /ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Homine is the ablative singular form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human. Exigitur is the third person singular passive form of exigō, exigere, exēgī, exāctum (3): to drive out; demand, require. (It is certainly required from a man. . .)

Ut (conj. , with subjunctive): that. Prōsit is the third person singular subjunctive form of prōsum, prōdesse, prōfuī, prōfutūrus (irreg.): to be useful, help, benefit (takes a dative object). Hominibus is the dative plural form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human being. (. . . that he benefit/be useful to men/(fellow) humans. . .)

Sī (conj.): if. Fīō, fierī, —, — (irreg.): to be done; be made; become; happen. Potest is the third person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. Multīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. (. . . to many, if it can be done. . .)

Sī (conj.): if. Minus (adv.): less; not. Paucīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of paucus/pauca/paucum (1/2): few. Proximīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of proximus/proxima/proximum (1/2): nearest, next; adjoining—the superlative form of propinquus/propinqua/propinquum (1/2): near, close. Sibi: to himself—the dative form of the reflexive pronoun. (. . . if not, to a few; if not, to those nearest (to him); if not, to himself.)

Nam (particle): for. Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Sē: himself—the accusative form of the reflexive pronoun. Ūtilem is the m/f accusative singular form of ūtilis/ūtilis/ūtile (3): useful, helpful, beneficial. Cēterīs is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of cēterus/cētera/cēterum (1/2): the rest, (all) others. Efficit is the third person singular form of efficiō, efficere, effēcī, effectum (3, –iō): to make, bring about, cause. (For when he makes himself useful to others. . .)

Commūne is the neuter accusative singular form of commūnis/commūnis/commūne (3): shared, common, public; for the community. Agit is the third person singular form of agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3): to drive, set in motion; do, perform; act. Negōtium is the accusative singular form of negōtium, negōtiī (2n): occupation, business; matter; trouble (it’s the negation of ōtium, ōtiī (2n): leisure—so the absence of leisure). (. . . he is performing public business.)