It may have been translated into Czech but it was originally said in English, by Winston Churchill, speaking about the Battle of Britain pilots.
Possible translations: Ještě nikdy na poli lidských konfliktů tolik nevděčil tak velký počet lidí tak nemnohým. Na poli lidských konfliktů nikdy nevděčilo tolik za tak mnoho tak málu. Na poli lidských konfliktů nevděčilo nikdy tak velké množství za tak mnoho nepatrné hrstce.
Dobry den, this is one of my favourite ones: Když už člověk jednou je, tak má koukat aby byl. A když kouká, aby byl a je, tak má být to, co je a nemá být to, co není, jak tomu v mnoha případech je. Jan Werich I have been fighting a bit with the translation. So, if anybody could help me out, I would be most grateful. Thank you.
Not too sure about the translation: When a man once is, he should try to be. And, when he tries to be and is, he should be what he is and not what he isn’t, as it in many cases is. I tried to retain the original word order and hope it is understandable. be = exist
That is some kind of sentence. We've got real philosophers here To make the first clause a little more understandable in english, maybe.. Once that a man is........ Muž, jsouc pouze jeden muž, se má snažit byt kdo je, místo toho, kdo není.
That’s a famous quote by Jan Werich, so all kudos to him. Either Karel’s translation is wrong, or you got it wrong, or your translation back to Czech is wrong. 8) My attempt: Once a man happens to be (exist), he should mind to be. And once he mind to be, he should be what he (actually) is, and not to be what he is not, as in many cases it happens to be.
No, I think I got the meaning of the translation. My, Muž, jsou pouze...was just an attempt at some philosophy of my own Wer....'mind to'...does not work there. I don't think that is ever used in the infinitive form. uses I don't mind....(It doesn't bother me) Do you mind if..... What did you have in mind?..In this sense...mind is not related to the 'bothering', but rather 'what were you thinking' maybe Once a man is, he should intend to be, attempt to be, try to be, make an attempt to be?, and once he intends to be, he should be....... Now I'm not sure if I'm fully understanding the quote. koukat...doesn't that mean 'to look'? maybe... Once a man is, he should look at (examine) what he was, and when he sees what he would be and is, he should be what what he is and not what he isn't, which often is the case. :? Spletený na Floridě.
Here, "koukat" means to concentrate on st; so maybe it could be translated as ...he should concentrate on being, and when he concentrates on being and he is, then...
I see. 8) What about “make/set/put one’s mind to be” or “have in mind to be”? Could it work? Maybe: He should see to be… He should do his best to be… Only in its basic meaning, not here. No, that’s not the meaning.
Yes, those would work. They should put their mind to, set their mind to.... And I think Jana's translation seems to be getting to the point, philosophical. Once that a man is, he should concentrate on being, and if he concentrates on being, he should be what he is and not what he is not.
Oh, and I forgot to add theses uses of 'to mind' often found in commands Mind your manners! Mind your own business! Mind your mother! Why don't you mind me? I don't know why I bother saying anything, because you do whatever you want anyway.(in that sense it means..(Do what is said by me...do what I say) Rare use of 'to mind' in infinitive form. The best thing you can do right now is (to) mind your mother.
That’s it. That’s why I decided to use the word “mind” here. We use the verb “koukat” the same way. It could be warning, friendly wish, or even threat. It’s typical for parent’s orders. Koukej vyhrát! Mind you win! (I’m going to bet on you, mind you win! Mind you win, or else… Does it work in English?) Koukej jít rovnou domů! Mind you come straight home! Koukej přijít! Koukej přijít včas! Koukej zmizet! / Koukej se klidit! Koukej to vrátit! But this is a little different context. Here we use “hledět si”: Hleď si svého! Hleď si (své) matky!
Yes, those expressions would be similar. I think we would use command form in both halves of expressions though. Look! Get out of here! Koukej! Zmiz! Look! Go straight home! Koukej jít rovně domů. Nemij 'Go', nesbírej dvě sta dolárů. From the game Monopoly. Look!....means maybe, pay attention to what I'm getting ready to say. Koukej vyhrát! Make sure you win! Koukej donést knihu do knihovny včas. Nezaplatím pokutu pro tebe tentokrát. Raději by sis hledal svého. Nedej nos, kam nos nepatří.
Some corrections: Tentokrát za tebe pokutu nezaplatím! (word order!) Raději by sis měl hledět svého! Nestrkej nos (tam), kam nepatří. Nestrkej nos do věcí, do kterých ti nic není! Koukej jít rovnou domů! = Nikde se cestou nezastavuj, s nikým se nevybavuj! Koukej jít domů rovně! means rather Ne abys přišel po čtyřech jako posledně! Koukej přijít! = Mysli na Navrátila! :wink:
