Leviathan — Page 10

English → It Preface Level 9/10

I say the similitude of Passions, which are the same in all men, Desire, Feare, Hope, &c; not the similitude or The Objects of the Passions, which are the things Desired, Feared, Hoped, &c: for these the constitution individuall, and particular education do so vary, and they are so easie to be kept from our knowledge, that the characters of mans heart, blotted and confounded as they are, with dissembling, lying, counterfeiting, and erroneous doctrines, are legible onely to him that searcheth hearts.

Dico la somiglianza delle Passioni, che sono le stesse in tutti gli uomini, il Desiderio, la Paura, la Speranza, ecc.; non la somiglianza degli Oggetti delle Passioni, che sono le cose Desiderate, Temute, Sperate, ecc.: poiché queste la costituzione individuale e la particolare educazione le variano così tanto, ed esse sono così facili da tenere lontane dalla nostra conoscenza, che i caratteri del cuore umano, cancellati e confusi come sono, dalla simulazione, dalla menzogna, dalla contraffazione e da dottrine erronee, sono leggibili solo a colui che scruta i cuori.

And though by mens actions wee do discover their designee sometimes; yet to do it without comparing them with our own, and distinguishing all circumstances, by which the case may come to be altered, is to decypher without a key, and be for the most part deceived, by too much trust, or by too much diffidence; as he that reads, is himselfe a good or evill man.

E sebbene attraverso le azioni degli uomini noi scopriamo talvolta i loro disegni, tuttavia farlo senza confrontarli con i nostri, e senza distinguere tutte le circostanze per le quali il caso può venire a essere alterato, è decifrare senza una chiave, ed essere per lo più ingannati, da troppa fiducia o da troppa diffidenza; a seconda che chi legge sia egli stesso un uomo buono o malvagio.

But let one man read another by his actions never so perfectly, it serves him onely with his acquaintance, which are but few.

Ma anche se un uomo leggesse un altro attraverso le sue azioni nel modo più perfetto, ciò gli giova soltanto con le sue conoscenze, che sono ben poche.

He that is to govern a whole Nation, must read in himselfe, not this, or that particular man; but Man-kind; which though it be hard to do, harder than to learn any Language, or Science; yet, when I shall have set down my own reading orderly, and perspicuously, the pains left another, will be onely to consider, if he also find not the same in himselfe.

Colui che deve governare un'intera Nazione deve leggere in se stesso non questo o quell'uomo particolare, ma il Genere Umano; il che, sebbene sia difficile da fare, più difficile che imparare qualsiasi Lingua o Scienza, tuttavia, quando io avrò esposto la mia propria lettura in modo ordinato e perspicuo, la fatica lasciata ad un altro sarà soltanto di considerare se anch'egli non trovi lo stesso in se stesso.

For this kind of Doctrine, admitteth no other Demonstration.

Poiché questo tipo di Dottrina non ammette altra Dimostrazione.

Vocabulary

Dico: DEE-koh — I say; first person singular of 'dire'
la: lah — The; feminine singular definite article
somiglianza: soh-mee-LYAHN-tsah — Resemblance or similarity between things or people
delle: DEL-leh — Of the; feminine plural contraction of 'di le'
Passioni: pahs-SYOH-nee — Passions; strong emotional feelings or drives
che: keh — That, which, or who; common conjunction and pronoun
sono: SOH-noh — Are; third person plural of 'essere'
le: leh — The; feminine plural definite article
stesse: STES-seh — The same; feminine plural adjective of identity
in: een — In; basic preposition of location or inclusion
tutti: TOOT-tee — All; masculine plural adjective meaning everyone
gli: lyee — The; masculine plural definite article before vowels
uomini: WOH-mee-nee — Men; plural of 'uomo', human beings
il: eel — The; masculine singular definite article
Desiderio: deh-zee-DEH-ryoh — Desire; strong wish or longing for something
Paura: pah-OO-rah — Fear; feeling of anxiety or dread
Speranza: speh-RAHN-tsah — Hope; expectation of something desired happening
ecc: et-CHEH-teh-rah — Etc.; abbreviation for 'eccetera', and so on
non: nohn — Not; basic negation adverb in Italian
degli: DEL-lyee — Of the; masculine plural contraction of 'di gli'
Oggetti: ohd-JET-tee — Objects; things that can be perceived or desired
cose: KOH-zeh — Things; general term for objects or matters
Desiderate: deh-zee-deh-RAH-teh — Desired; things that are wished for or wanted
Temute: teh-MOO-teh — Feared; things regarded with dread or apprehension
Sperate: speh-RAH-teh — Hoped for; things anticipated with desire
poiché: poy-KEH — Since, because; conjunction explaining a reason
queste: KWES-teh — These; feminine plural demonstrative pronoun or adjective
costituzione: koh-stee-toot-SYOH-neh — Constitution; makeup or fundamental nature of something
individuale: een-dee-vee-dwah-LEH — Individual; relating to a single person or being
e: eh — And; basic coordinating conjunction
particolare: pahr-tee-koh-LAH-reh — Particular; specific or distinctive in nature
educazione: eh-doo-kaht-SYOH-neh — Education; process of teaching and upbringing
variano: VAH-ryah-noh — Vary; they differ or change across cases
così: koh-ZEE — So, thus; adverb indicating degree or manner
tanto: TAHN-toh — So much; adverb indicating a great degree
ed: ed — And; variant of 'e' used before vowels
esse: ES-seh — They; third person feminine plural pronoun
facili: FAH-chee-lee — Easy; simple or not difficult to do
da: dah — From, by; preposition of origin or agent
tenere: teh-NEH-reh — To keep or hold; infinitive of common verb
lontane: lohn-TAH-neh — Far, distant; feminine plural adjective of distance
dalla: DAHL-lah — From the; feminine singular contraction of 'da la'
nostra: NOH-strah — Our; feminine singular possessive adjective
conoscenza: koh-noh-SHEN-tsah — Knowledge or acquaintance with facts or people
i: ee — The; masculine plural definite article
caratteri: kah-RAHT-teh-ree — Characters or traits; distinctive features of individuals
del: del — Of the; masculine singular contraction of 'di il'
cuore: KWOH-reh — Heart; center of emotion or human feeling
umano: oo-MAH-noh — Human; relating to people or human nature
cancellati: kahn-chel-LAH-tee — Erased or cancelled; obliterated and no longer visible
confusi: kohn-FOO-zee — Confused or muddled; mixed up and unclear
come: KOH-meh — Like, as; conjunction or adverb of comparison
simulazione: see-moo-laht-SYOH-neh — Simulation or pretense; act of feigning something
menzogna: men-TSOHN-yah — Lie; a false statement intended to deceive
contraffazione: kohn-trahf-faht-SYOH-neh — Counterfeiting or forgery; fraudulent imitation of something
dottrine: doht-TREE-neh — Doctrines; sets of beliefs or teachings
erronee: er-ROH-neh-eh — Erroneous; incorrect or mistaken in nature
leggibili: led-JEE-bee-lee — Legible or readable; capable of being understood
solo: SOH-loh — Only, alone; adverb or adjective of exclusivity
a: ah — To, at; basic preposition of direction or location
colui: koh-LOO-ee — He who, that one; masculine singular pronoun
scruta: SKROO-tah — Scrutinizes; examines closely and carefully
cuori: KWOH-ree — Hearts; plural of 'cuore', centers of emotion
E: eh — And; coordinating conjunction joining clauses
sebbene: seb-BEH-neh — Although; concessive conjunction introducing a contrast
attraverso: aht-trah-VER-soh — Through; preposition indicating passage or means
azioni: aht-SYOH-nee — Actions; things done or performed by someone
noi: noy — We; first person plural subject pronoun
scopriamo: skoh-PRYAH-moh — We discover; first person plural of 'scoprire'
talvolta: tahl-VOHL-tah — Sometimes; adverb indicating occasional occurrence
loro: LOH-roh — Their, them; third person plural pronoun or possessive
disegni: dee-ZEN-yee — Designs or intentions; plans or underlying purposes
tuttavia: toot-tah-VEE-ah — Nevertheless; adverb indicating contrast or concession
farlo: FAHR-loh — To do it; infinitive 'fare' with clitic pronoun
senza: SEN-tsah — Without; preposition indicating absence or lack
confrontarli: kohn-frohn-TAHR-lee — To compare them; infinitive with plural object pronoun
con: kohn — With; basic preposition of accompaniment
nostri: NOH-stree — Our; masculine plural possessive adjective
distinguere: dees-TEEN-gweh-reh — To distinguish; to tell apart or differentiate things
tutte: TOOT-teh — All; feminine plural adjective meaning every one
circostanze: cheer-koh-STAHN-tseh — Circumstances; conditions surrounding an event or situation
per: pehr — For, by; preposition of purpose, means, or duration
quali: KWAH-lee — Which; plural relative or interrogative pronoun
caso: KAH-zoh — Case or chance; a circumstance or instance
può: pwoh — Can, may; third person singular of 'potere'
venire: veh-NEE-reh — To come; infinitive of common motion verb
essere: ES-seh-reh — To be; infinitive of fundamental Italian verb
alterato: ahl-teh-RAH-toh — Altered or changed; modified from original state
è: eh — Is; third person singular present of 'essere'
decifrare: deh-chee-FRAH-reh — To decipher; to decode or interpret something obscure
una: OO-nah — A, an; feminine singular indefinite article
chiave: KYAH-veh — Key; instrument for unlocking or solving something
lo: loh — Him, it; masculine singular direct object pronoun
più: pyoo — More; adverb or adjective of greater degree
ingannati: een-gahn-NAH-tee — Deceived; misled or tricked by someone or something
troppa: TROP-pah — Too much; feminine adjective indicating excess
fiducia: fee-DOO-chah — Trust or confidence; reliance placed in someone
o: oh — Or; basic disjunctive coordinating conjunction
diffidenza: deef-fee-DEN-tsah — Distrust or mistrust; lack of confidence in others
seconda: seh-KOHN-dah — According to; preposition expressing dependence on something
chi: kee — Who; interrogative or relative pronoun for people
legge: LED-jeh — Reads; third person singular of 'leggere'
sia: SEE-ah — May be; third person singular subjunctive of 'essere'
egli: EL-lyee — He; formal masculine third person singular pronoun
stesso: STES-soh — Same, himself; masculine singular adjective of identity
un: oon — A, an; masculine singular indefinite article
uomo: WOH-moh — Man; adult male human being
buono: BWOH-noh — Good; adjective describing positive moral character
malvagio: mahl-VAH-joh — Wicked or evil; morally bad person
Ma: mah — But; adversative coordinating conjunction
anche: AHN-keh — Also, even; adverb adding inclusion or emphasis
se: seh — If; conditional conjunction introducing hypothesis
leggesse: led-JES-seh — Were to read; third person singular subjunctive of 'leggere'
altro: AHL-troh — Other, else; adjective or pronoun indicating difference
sue: SOO-eh — His, her; feminine plural possessive adjective
nel: nel — In the; masculine singular contraction of 'in il'
modo: MOH-doh — Way or manner; method of doing something
perfetto: pehr-FET-toh — Perfect; without flaw or in ideal condition
ciò: choh — This, that; neuter demonstrative pronoun referring to ideas
giova: JOH-vah — Benefits or helps; it is useful for something
soltanto: sohl-TAHN-toh — Only, just; adverb of limitation or restriction
conoscenze: koh-noh-SHEN-tseh — Knowledge or acquaintances; plural of 'conoscenza'
ben: ben — Well; adverb indicating quality, often before adjectives
poche: POH-keh — Few; feminine plural adjective indicating small number
Colui: koh-LOO-ee — He who, that one; masculine singular demonstrative pronoun
deve: DEH-veh — Must, has to; third person singular of 'dovere'
governare: goh-vehr-NAH-reh — To govern or rule; to lead a nation or group
un': oon — An; feminine singular indefinite article before vowel
intera: een-TEH-rah — Entire or whole; feminine adjective of completeness
Nazione: naht-SYOH-neh — Nation; a country or people sharing common identity
leggere: LED-jeh-reh — To read; infinitive of fundamental Italian verb
questo: KWES-toh — This; masculine singular demonstrative pronoun or adjective
quell': kwel — That; elided demonstrative adjective before vowel
ma: mah — But; adversative coordinating conjunction
Genere: JEH-neh-reh — Kind, gender, or genus; a category or type
Umano: oo-MAH-noh — Human; relating to humankind or human nature
difficile: deef-FEE-chee-leh — Difficult; not easy or requiring much effort
fare: FAH-reh — To do or make; infinitive of fundamental verb
imparare: eem-pah-RAH-reh — To learn; to acquire knowledge or a skill
qualsiasi: kwahl-SYAH-zee — Any, whatever; adjective indicating any one at all
Lingua: LEEN-gwah — Language or tongue; system of human communication
Scienza: SHYEN-tsah — Science or knowledge; systematic study of the world
quando: KWAHN-doh — When; temporal conjunction or adverb
io: EE-oh — I; first person singular subject pronoun
avrò: ah-VROH — I will have; first person singular future of 'avere'
esposto: es-POH-stoh — Exposed or presented; laid out for examination
mia: MEE-ah — My; feminine singular possessive adjective
propria: PROH-pryah — Own; feminine adjective indicating personal possession
lettura: let-TOO-rah — Reading; act or practice of reading a text
ordinato: ohr-dee-NAH-toh — Ordered or organized; arranged in systematic manner
perspicuo: pehr-SPEE-kwoh — Clear or perspicuous; easy to understand and transparent
fatica: fah-TEE-kah — Effort or toil; hard work or laborious exertion
lasciata: lah-SHAH-tah — Left or entrusted; feminine past participle of 'lasciare'
ad: ahd — To, at; variant of 'a' used before vowels
sarà: sah-RAH — Will be; third person singular future of 'essere'
di: dee — Of; basic preposition of possession or specification
considerare: kohn-see-deh-RAH-reh — To consider; to think carefully about something
anch': ahn-keh — Also, even; elided form of 'anche' before vowel
trovi: TROH-vee — Find; second person singular subjunctive of 'trovare'
Poiché: poy-KEH — Since, because; conjunction introducing a reason
tipo: TEE-poh — Type or kind; a category or sort of thing
Dottrina: doht-TREE-nah — Doctrine; a body of teachings or principles
ammette: ahm-MET-teh — Admits or allows; third person singular of 'ammettere'
altra: AHL-trah — Other; feminine singular adjective indicating another thing
Dimostrazione: dee-moh-straht-SYOH-neh — Demonstration or proof; act of showing evidence clearly

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