need a latin translation

[deadvince]

i've driven myself half crazy trying to figure this out. i want a new tattoo reading simply "Strength, Truth, Honor" in latin, but i've only confused myself thoroughly. best i can figure is "firmitas, verus, decus" and i feel it's WAY off. can anyone help?

 

[*tasha*]

it's more like - Fors, Veritas, Dignitas
a nice moto :up:

 

[deadvince]

thanks a lot. how sure are you?

 

[Englishlanguage]

Fors does not mean strenght. It means fate, destiny but it may also mean perhaps as an adverb.
You may translate strenght as vis (which is definitely the word most often used to translate it) or robor.
As for truth, you may use veritas or verum but do not use verus. That is an adjective and is not what you're looking for.
I think decus is ok but you may also translate it just as honor (which is what the English word derived from).

 

[*tasha*]

Ooooh, yeah... sorry about fors (what was i thinking?!)
*and there's also an older version of honor-honos

 

[deadvince]

ok excellent, seems the way to go would be Vis, Veritas, Decus. thanks alot for the help, i truly appreciate it.:up:

 

[BobK]

ok excellent, seems the way to go would be Vis, Veritas, Decus. thanks alot for the help, i truly appreciate it.:up:

I'd follow Englishlanguage's lead, and favour honor. Without looking it up - but thinking of our derived word 'decoration' (which similarly has two meanings - an adornment and a symbol recognizing heroic behaviour) I'd guess that decus meant that sort of 'honour' - the latter. Besides, 'Vis, veritas, honor' is easier to make sense of without special knowledge.

b

 

[deadvince]

so basically thats to say decus would be more like a recognition, such as a medal, and using simply honor would decrease the likelihood of it being misunderstood? i really like the design i came up with for the decus translation (it has a really cool lettering), but if it's too inaccurate i'll go the other way.

 

[BobK]

I wouldn't use the term "inaccurate". Language reflects* a way of thinking, and the Latin way of thinking was not the same as that of people today. They saw honourable behaviour as actually decorative. So decus is OK for the use you have in mind; and if the design is what you want, I'd go for it.

b

*some would put it more strongly than that

 

[Englishlanguage]

I agree with BobK. And consider that Vis, veritas, honor would be more easily understood but of course the choice is up to you.
P.s: I just found out that vis is used in English as well - at least in a literary style. Is this one of those words that 95% of native speakers have never heard of or may it make it easier for the majority of native speakers to make out the meaning of the latin word in Vis, veritas, honor?

 

[deadvince]

well i have my design and have started shopping around for an artist, so thanks to everyone who lent a hand, i really appreciate it!

 

[beascarpetta]

probably too late anyway
but what about
"vis,virtus,veritas" ?

 

[BobK]

probably too late anyway
but what about
"vis,virtus,veritas" ?

Catchy, but as you say...

b

 

[deadvince]

no, it's not too late, what's the difference? i'm just looking for the best way to express those 3 virtues as standards in my life. which would work best for that?

 

[beascarpetta]

no, it's not too late, what's the difference? i'm just looking for the best way to express those 3 virtues as standards in my life. which would work best for that?

actually,it was just a thought since both the increasing number of syllables(vis (1) - virtus(2) - veritas (3)) as well as the alliterations (vis - virtus - veritas) make for a nice climax. :-D

It is in fact the university motto of Rhodes University, South Africa

 

[deadvince]

actually i agree, it rolls off a lot nicer and has a better ring, but does it retain it's original meaning?

 

[beascarpetta]

actually i agree, it rolls off a lot nicer and has a better ring, but does it retain it's original meaning?

well, as far as I can tell it does retain its original meaning
there is only a change concerning the word order you wanted to keep

Strength, Truth, Honor would actually amount to vis, veritas , virtus

For the classical use of these words you've got ample evidence in Golden Age Latin authors such Cicero(both in his orations and his philosophical treatises) Julius Caesar and Livy( not taking into account poets such as Ovid and Virgil etc)

Let e know,if you need more detailed reference.
regards,
bea