Help me out, please, dp--I need it to say "Never care more than they care". Couldn't find my tea partying Latin Dictionary, and those silly declension thingies just haven't stuck. I'm no engineer.
I should have given this context: Contingent Cassandra commented on an earlier thread that CM should have a coat of arms, with the motto: "Never care more about their grades than they do." And a hamster and a duck.
I can't help on the Latin; the very, very little I have is church Latin, and I can only sing it, not decline it. There must be somebody here who can help. It's a rather complicated grammatical construction, even in English, but "never care more than they care" seems like a good way to boil it down to motto length.
I like the idea of gumdrop unicorns, and yes, there definitely need to be some snowflakes somewhere about -- maybe in place of pearls on the crown? And if the top is the spot for some sort of representation of God, or an ultimate power, at least a patron saint, perhaps Yaro's head could go there? Or a book, to symbolize what we read, but our students don't?
I ought to suggest people do things on here more often. Someone should grade all the papers I need to hand back by tomorrow (because, you know, I'm really, really lazy and want to work on a conference paper I'm scheduled to deliver soon instead). Right now, the most accurate visual representation of me would be a person surrounded by stacks of paper so high they threaten to topple on and smother her (actually, most of the work is in virtual form, but the threat still feels like it's there).
I've often wondered what would make me stop lurking and finally get an account that allowed me to comment. As someone who works in ancient hamster languages and material culture, I thought I should help with the Latin.
What we need, since it's a maxim, is the subjunctive, not the infinitive. We also need two cares, not a do, since the do in the English really means "more than they do care." I recommend: Ne cures nisi curent ["do not care unless they care"] But if you'd really like to keep the comparative in there, we could try: Ne cures magis quam curent ["do not care more than they care," but this is less like what Latin would do]
Thanks, Annie, for getting this started! Perhaps Merely will see this and weigh in too.
I like "do not care unless they care"; that captures it nicely. And the rhythm of the Latin phrase feels right to me, but, as I said above, I'm in no position to judge.
Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It needs some finishing touches, like CM. I also would like to change the lions into gumdrop unicorns emblazoned with snowflakes.
DeleteMaybe a reclining proffie snoozing on top, symbolizing how hard we all work.
DeleteIt shouldn't be too hard to find a coat-of-arms blank with unicorns rampant instead of lions.
DeleteHere's one, the Governor General of Canada has two unicorns.
DeleteAnd the current GG is a former administrator!
DeleteOooh, nice one, intro.prof, thanks! I'll see what I can do with that one.
Delete"Never to care more than to do"? Not really quite what you meant to say.
ReplyDeleteIllegitimus non carborundum, how about that one?
DeleteHelp me out, please, dp--I need it to say "Never care more than they care". Couldn't find my tea partying Latin Dictionary, and those silly declension thingies just haven't stuck. I'm no engineer.
DeleteThis reminds me: where did Wombat of the Copier go? I love me some Wombat.
ReplyDeleteI hope Wombat returns sometime.
DeleteI think I've seen a comment or two from wombat in the last month or so, but that's it.
DeleteSad Latinist is sad.
ReplyDeleteJe suis désolée, J. It has been many years of no practice in the Latin quarter of my life.
DeleteI should have given this context: Contingent Cassandra commented on an earlier thread that CM should have a coat of arms, with the motto: "Never care more about their grades than they do." And a hamster and a duck.
ReplyDeleteLovely! Thank you, Annie!
ReplyDeleteI can't help on the Latin; the very, very little I have is church Latin, and I can only sing it, not decline it. There must be somebody here who can help. It's a rather complicated grammatical construction, even in English, but "never care more than they care" seems like a good way to boil it down to motto length.
I like the idea of gumdrop unicorns, and yes, there definitely need to be some snowflakes somewhere about -- maybe in place of pearls on the crown? And if the top is the spot for some sort of representation of God, or an ultimate power, at least a patron saint, perhaps Yaro's head could go there? Or a book, to symbolize what we read, but our students don't?
I ought to suggest people do things on here more often. Someone should grade all the papers I need to hand back by tomorrow (because, you know, I'm really, really lazy and want to work on a conference paper I'm scheduled to deliver soon instead). Right now, the most accurate visual representation of me would be a person surrounded by stacks of paper so high they threaten to topple on and smother her (actually, most of the work is in virtual form, but the threat still feels like it's there).
I've often wondered what would make me stop lurking and finally get an account that allowed me to comment. As someone who works in ancient hamster languages and material culture, I thought I should help with the Latin.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need, since it's a maxim, is the subjunctive, not the infinitive. We also need two cares, not a do, since the do in the English really means "more than they do care." I recommend:
Ne cures nisi curent ["do not care unless they care"]
But if you'd really like to keep the comparative in there, we could try:
Ne cures magis quam curent ["do not care more than they care," but this is less like what Latin would do]
Thanks, Annie, for getting this started! Perhaps Merely will see this and weigh in too.
I like "do not care unless they care"; that captures it nicely. And the rhythm of the Latin phrase feels right to me, but, as I said above, I'm in no position to judge.
DeletePerfect! Thanks, Ana, and welcome. I, too like "do not care unless they care," CC.
DeleteI'm getting "Ne cures nisi curent" on a t-shirt, dammit.
DeleteThank you Ana, for the help!!
You see, we do need Archie. His Latin skills are quite good.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, though Ana seems to have served as a quite satisfactory pinch-hitter in his absence (at least I hope J Harker has stopped weeping).
DeleteWow, my first day delurking and I am able to contribute to the heading of the page!!?? I am honored.
ReplyDeleteThings happen fast around here sometimes. Welcome, Ana, and thanks for delurking and lending your skills. I hope you'll come around again.
Delete