CERTAMEN IN CONCORDIAM EUROPAE REGIONUM OMNIUM
CONCOURS EUROPEEN CICERO
EUROPEAN CICERO COMPETITION
CONCURSO EUROPEO CICERO
CONCORSO EUROPEO “CICERO
.. LANGUAGE TEST
2008
..
Upper 6 students should attempt the whole translation and Lower 6 omit the central section.
Cicero wrote de officiis in the last year of his life, an essay in the form of a letter to his son, explaining his ideas about the best way to live and to contribute to society.
Why is it that human beings have decided to live together in societies rather than independently, and is there any point in pursuing knowledge for its own sake if it is not related to the needs of society ?
atque ut apium examina non fingendorum favorum causa congregantur, sed cum congregabilia natura sint, fingunt favos, sic homines - ac multo etiam magis - natura congregati, exercent agendi cogitandique sollertiam. itaque, nisi Iustitia, quae maxime valet ad communitates hominum tuendos, attingat atque comitatur cognitionem rerum, solivaga cognitio et ieiuna videatur. itemque Magnitudo Animi, remota communitate coniunctioneque humana, fera sit et saeva. ita fit, ut vincat cognitionis studium consociatio hominum atque communitas.
Upper 6 students should attempt the whole translation and Lower 6 omit the central section.
Cicero wrote de officiis in the last year of his life, an essay in the form of a letter to his son, explaining his ideas about the best way to live and to contribute to society.
Why is it that human beings have decided to live together in societies rather than independently, and is there any point in pursuing knowledge for its own sake if it is not related to the needs of society ?
atque ut apium examina non fingendorum favorum causa congregantur, sed cum congregabilia natura sint, fingunt favos, sic homines - ac multo etiam magis - natura congregati, exercent agendi cogitandique sollertiam. itaque, nisi Iustitia, quae maxime valet ad communitates hominum tuendos, attingat atque comitatur cognitionem rerum, solivaga cognitio et ieiuna videatur. itemque Magnitudo Animi, remota communitate coniunctioneque humana, fera sit et saeva. ita fit, ut vincat cognitionis studium consociatio hominum atque communitas.
examen -inis (n) : (not an examination!) a swarm (of bees)
natura is ablative in lines 1 and 2
cognitio –ionis (f) : the acquiring of knowledge
cognitio –ionis (f) : the acquiring of knowledge
solivagus –a –um : isolated
Magnitudo (f) Animi : (here) = Courage
Lower 6 : omit this section
Magnitudo (f) Animi : (here) = Courage
Lower 6 : omit this section
nec verum est (quod dicitur a quibusdam) propter necessitatem vitae, quod ea, quae vitae necessaria essent, consequi atque efficere sine aliis hominibus non possemus, idcirco initas esse communitates et societatem; quodsi omnia nobis, quae ad victum cultumque pertinent, quasi virgula divina, ut aiunt, suppeditarentur; tum optimo quisque ingenio, negotiis omnibus omissis, totum se in cognitione et scientia collocaret. non est ita. nam et solitudinem fugeret et socium studii quaereret; tum docere, tum discere vellet, tum audire, tum dicere.
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quod … non possemus = because ….
quod … non possemus = because ….
consequor, consequi = obtain
victus : this is a noun, not a participle
quasi virgula divina : this might seem like a modern expression, but it is genuine Cicero !
Which moral qualities or duties are most important ?
quasi virgula divina : this might seem like a modern expression, but it is genuine Cicero !
Which moral qualities or duties are most important ?
ergo omne officium, quod ad coniunctionem hominum et ad societatem tuendam valet, anteponendum est illi officio, quod cognitione et scientia continetur. quare hoc quidem effectum sit: in officiis deligendis id genus officiorum excellere, quod usui sit hominum societati. non difficile est quid cuique sit praeponendum videre. gradus officiorum sunt : prima diis immortalibus, secunda patriae, tertia parentibus, deinceps gradatim reliquis debeantur.
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officium -ii n. : duty
officium -ii n. : duty
cognitio –ionis (f) : the acquiring of knowledge
effectum sit : ‘should be regarded as settled.’
