On Liberty — Page 11

English → It Preface Level 9/10

But to be a critic of doctrine she was hardly qualified.

Ma per essere una critica della dottrina, ella era appena qualificata.

Mill has made some clear admissions on this point.

Mill ha fatto alcune chiare ammissioni su questo punto.

"The only actual revolution which has ever taken place in my modes of thinking was already complete,"[2] he says, before her influence became paramount.

"L'unica vera rivoluzione che abbia mai avuto luogo nei miei modi di pensare era già completa,"[2] egli dice, prima che la sua influenza diventasse predominante.

There is a curiously humble estimate of his own powers (to which Dr. Bain has called attention), which reads at first sight as if it contradicted this.

Vi è una curiosamente umile valutazione delle proprie capacità (alla quale il dottor Bain ha richiamato l'attenzione), che a prima vista sembra contraddire ciò.

"During the greater part of my literary life I have performed the office in relation to her, which, from a rather early period, I had considered as the most useful part that I was qualified to take in the domain of thought, that of an interpreter of original thinkers, and mediator between them and the public."

"Durante la maggior parte della mia vita letteraria ho svolto il ruolo nei suoi confronti, che, da un periodo piuttosto precoce, avevo considerato come la parte più utile che fossi qualificato a svolgere nel dominio del pensiero, quello di interprete di pensatori originali, e mediatore tra loro e il pubblico."

So far it would seem that Mill had sat at the feet of his oracle; but observe the highly remarkable exception which is made in the following sentence:--"For I had always a humble opinion of my own powers as an original thinker, _except in abstract science (logic, metaphysics, and the theoretic principles of political economy and politics.)_"[3]

Fin qui sembrerebbe che Mill si fosse seduto ai piedi del suo oracolo; ma si osservi la notevolissima eccezione che viene fatta nella seguente frase:--"Poiché ho sempre avuto una umile opinione delle mie capacità come pensatore originale, _eccetto nelle scienze astratte (logica, metafisica, e i principi teorici dell'economia politica e della politica.)_"[3]

If Mill then was an original thinker in logic, metaphysics, and the science of economy and politics, it is clear that he had not learnt these from her lips.

Se Mill dunque era un pensatore originale in logica, metafisica e nella scienza dell'economia e della politica, è chiaro che non le aveva apprese dalle sue labbra.

And to most men logic and metaphysics may be safely taken as forming a domain in which originality of thought, if it can be honestly professed, is a sufficient title of distinction.

E per la maggior parte degli uomini la logica e la metafisica possono essere tranquillamente considerate come un dominio in cui l'originalità di pensiero, se può essere onestamente professata, è un titolo sufficiente di distinzione.

Mrs.

La signora

Vocabulary

Ma: Conjunction meaning 'but', used to contrast ideas.
per: Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', or 'through'.
essere: Infinitive verb meaning 'to be'.
una: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine).
critica: Noun meaning 'critique' or 'criticism'.
della: Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the'.
dottrina: Noun meaning 'doctrine' or 'teaching'.
ella: Formal third-person feminine pronoun meaning 'she'.
era: Past tense of 'essere', meaning 'was'.
appena: Adverb meaning 'hardly', 'just', or 'barely'.
qualificata: Adjective meaning 'qualified' or 'competent' (feminine).
ha: Third-person singular of 'avere', meaning 'has'.
fatto: Past participle of 'fare', meaning 'done' or 'made'.
alcune: Indefinite adjective meaning 'some' or 'a few' (feminine plural).
chiare: Adjective meaning 'clear' or 'evident' (feminine plural).
ammissioni: Noun meaning 'admissions' or 'acknowledgements'.
su: Preposition meaning 'on', 'about', or 'upon'.
questo: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this'.
punto: Noun meaning 'point', 'dot', or 'spot'.
L': Contracted definite article meaning 'the' before vowels.
unica: Adjective meaning 'only' or 'unique' (feminine).
vera: Adjective meaning 'true' or 'real' (feminine).
rivoluzione: Noun meaning 'revolution' or 'radical change'.
che: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
abbia: Subjunctive form of 'avere', meaning 'has' or 'have'.
mai: Adverb meaning 'ever' or 'never'.
avuto: Past participle of 'avere', meaning 'had'.
luogo: Noun meaning 'place'; in 'avuto luogo' means 'taken place'.
nei: Contraction of 'in' and 'i', meaning 'in the' (masculine plural).
miei: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (masculine plural).
modi: Noun meaning 'ways', 'modes', or 'manners'.
di: Preposition meaning 'of', 'by', or 'from'.
pensare: Infinitive verb meaning 'to think'.
già: Adverb meaning 'already' or 'yet'.
completa: Adjective meaning 'complete' or 'finished' (feminine).
egli: Formal third-person masculine pronoun meaning 'he'.
dice: Third-person singular of 'dire', meaning 'says'.
prima: Adverb or adjective meaning 'before' or 'first'.
la: Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular).
sua: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (feminine).
influenza: Noun meaning 'influence' or 'impact'.
diventasse: Imperfect subjunctive of 'diventare', meaning 'became'.
predominante: Adjective meaning 'predominant' or 'prevailing'.
Vi: Pronoun or adverb meaning 'there' or 'in it'.
è: Third-person singular of 'essere', meaning 'is'.
curiosamente: Adverb meaning 'curiously' or 'interestingly'.
umile: Adjective meaning 'humble' or 'modest'.
valutazione: Noun meaning 'evaluation', 'assessment', or 'judgment'.
delle: Contraction of 'di' and 'le', meaning 'of the' (feminine plural).
proprie: Possessive adjective meaning 'one's own' (feminine plural).
capacità: Noun meaning 'capacity', 'ability', or 'skill'.
alla: Contraction of 'a' and 'la', meaning 'to the' (feminine).
quale: Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'who'.
il: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular).
dottor: Abbreviated title meaning 'doctor' before a name.
richiamato: Past participle meaning 'called attention to' or 'recalled'.
l': Contracted definite article meaning 'the' before a vowel.
attenzione: Noun meaning 'attention' or 'care'.
a: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
vista: Noun meaning 'sight', 'view', or 'glance'.
sembra: Third-person singular of 'sembrare', meaning 'seems'.
contraddire: Infinitive verb meaning 'to contradict'.
ciò: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this', 'that', or 'it'.
Durante: Preposition meaning 'during' or 'throughout'.
maggior: Adjective meaning 'greater' or 'major' (comparative form).
parte: Noun meaning 'part', 'portion', or 'share'.
mia: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (feminine singular).
vita: Noun meaning 'life'.
letteraria: Adjective meaning 'literary' (feminine singular).
ho: First-person singular of 'avere', meaning 'I have'.
svolto: Past participle of 'svolgere', meaning 'carried out' or 'performed'.
ruolo: Noun meaning 'role' or 'function'.
suoi: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (masculine plural).
confronti: Noun meaning 'comparisons'; in 'nei confronti di' means 'towards'.
da: Preposition meaning 'from', 'since', or 'by'.
un: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine).
periodo: Noun meaning 'period' or 'time span'.
piuttosto: Adverb meaning 'rather' or 'quite'.
precoce: Adjective meaning 'early', 'premature', or 'precocious'.
avevo: First-person singular imperfect of 'avere', meaning 'I had'.
considerato: Past participle of 'considerare', meaning 'considered'.
come: Adverb or conjunction meaning 'as', 'how', or 'like'.
più: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most'.
utile: Adjective meaning 'useful' or 'helpful'.
fossi: Imperfect subjunctive of 'essere', meaning 'I were'.
qualificato: Adjective meaning 'qualified' or 'fit' (masculine).
svolgere: Infinitive verb meaning 'to carry out' or 'to perform'.
nel: Contraction of 'in' and 'il', meaning 'in the'.
dominio: Noun meaning 'domain', 'field', or 'realm'.
del: Contraction of 'di' and 'il', meaning 'of the'.
pensiero: Noun meaning 'thought' or 'thinking'.
quello: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'that one'.
interprete: Noun meaning 'interpreter' or 'explainer'.
pensatori: Noun meaning 'thinkers' (masculine plural).
originali: Adjective meaning 'original' or 'creative' (plural).
e: Conjunction meaning 'and'.
mediatore: Noun meaning 'mediator' or 'go-between'.
tra: Preposition meaning 'between' or 'among'.
loro: Pronoun meaning 'them', 'their', or 'they'.
pubblico: Noun meaning 'public' or 'audience'.
Fin: Preposition meaning 'up to', 'until', or 'as far as'.
qui: Adverb meaning 'here'.
sembrerebbe: Conditional of 'sembrare', meaning 'it would seem'.
si: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself', 'herself', or 'oneself'.
fosse: Imperfect subjunctive of 'essere', meaning 'were'.
seduto: Past participle of 'sedersi', meaning 'seated' or 'sat'.
ai: Contraction of 'a' and 'i', meaning 'at the' or 'to the'.
piedi: Noun meaning 'feet'; 'ai piedi di' means 'at the feet of'.
suo: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
oracolo: Noun meaning 'oracle' or 'authoritative source.
ma: Conjunction meaning 'but', contrasting two ideas.
osservi: Subjunctive or imperative of 'osservare', meaning 'one notes'.
notevolissima: Superlative adjective meaning 'very remarkable' or 'notable'.
eccezione: Noun meaning 'exception'.
viene: Third-person singular of 'venire', meaning 'comes' or 'is made'.
fatta: Past participle of 'fare', meaning 'made' or 'done' (feminine).
nella: Contraction of 'in' and 'la', meaning 'in the' (feminine).
seguente: Adjective meaning 'following' or 'next'.
frase: Noun meaning 'sentence', 'phrase', or 'clause'.
Poiché: Conjunction meaning 'since', 'because', or 'as'.
sempre: Adverb meaning 'always' or 'still'.
opinione: Noun meaning 'opinion' or 'view'.
mie: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (feminine plural).
pensatore: Noun meaning 'thinker' (masculine singular).
originale: Adjective meaning 'original' or 'creative' (singular).
_eccetto: Preposition meaning 'except' or 'apart from'.
nelle: Contraction of 'in' and 'le', meaning 'in the' (feminine plural).
scienze: Noun meaning 'sciences' (plural).
astratte: Adjective meaning 'abstract' (feminine plural).
logica: Noun meaning 'logic' or 'logical reasoning'.
metafisica: Noun meaning 'metaphysics', a branch of philosophy.
i: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine plural).
principi: Noun meaning 'principles' or 'foundations'.
teorici: Adjective meaning 'theoretical' (masculine plural).
dell': Contraction of 'di' and 'l'', meaning 'of the'.
economia: Noun meaning 'economy' or 'economics'.
politica: Noun or adjective meaning 'politics' or 'political'.
Se: Conjunction meaning 'if' or 'whether'.
dunque: Conjunction meaning 'therefore', 'so', or 'then'.
in: Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'at'.
scienza: Noun meaning 'science' or 'knowledge'.
chiaro: Adjective meaning 'clear', 'bright', or 'evident'.
non: Adverb of negation meaning 'not'.
le: Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'them' (feminine).
aveva: Third-person singular imperfect of 'avere', meaning 'had'.
apprese: Past tense of 'apprendere', meaning 'learned' or 'acquired'.
dalle: Contraction of 'da' and 'le', meaning 'from the' (plural).
sue: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', 'its' (feminine plural).
labbra: Noun meaning 'lips'.
E: Conjunction meaning 'and'.
degli: Contraction of 'di' and 'gli', meaning 'of the' (masculine plural).
uomini: Noun meaning 'men' or 'people'.
possono: Third-person plural of 'potere', meaning 'can' or 'are able to'.
tranquillamente: Adverb meaning 'calmly', 'safely', or 'without doubt'.
considerate: Past participle of 'considerare', meaning 'considered' (feminine plural).
cui: Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'of which', or 'whom'.
originalità: Noun meaning 'originality' or 'uniqueness'.
se: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'if' or 'oneself'.
può: Third-person singular of 'potere', meaning 'can' or 'may'.
onestamente: Adverb meaning 'honestly' or 'truthfully'.
professata: Past participle of 'professare', meaning 'professed' or 'claimed'.
titolo: Noun meaning 'title', 'claim', or 'basis'.
sufficiente: Adjective meaning 'sufficient' or 'enough'.
distinzione: Noun meaning 'distinction' or 'difference'.
La: Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular).
signora: Noun meaning 'lady', 'Mrs.', or 'woman'.

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