Second Treatise of Government — Page 6

English → It Book II Level 9/10

But though this be a state of liberty, yet it is not a state of licence: though man in that state have an uncontroulable liberty to dispose of his person or possessions, yet he has not liberty to destroy himself, or so much as any creature in his possession, but where some nobler use than its bare preservation calls for it.

Ma sebbene questo sia uno stato di libertà, non è tuttavia uno stato di licenza: benché l'uomo in tale stato abbia una libertà incontrollabile di disporre della propria persona o dei propri beni, egli non ha la libertà di distruggere se stesso, né alcuna creatura in suo possesso, se non quando qualche uso più nobile della sua mera conservazione lo richieda.

The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions:

Lo stato di natura ha una legge di natura che lo governa, la quale obbliga ciascuno: e la ragione, che è tale legge, insegna a tutta l'umanità, a chiunque voglia consultarla, che essendo tutti uguali e indipendenti, nessuno dovrebbe recare danno a un altro nella sua vita, nella sua salute, nella sua libertà o nei suoi beni:

for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent, and infinitely wise maker; all the servants of one sovereign master, sent into the world by his order, and about his business; they are his property, whose workmanship they are, made to last during his, not one another's pleasure:

poiché gli uomini sono tutti opera di un unico creatore onnipotente e infinitamente saggio; tutti servitori di un unico sovrano signore, mandati nel mondo per suo ordine e per i suoi fini; essi sono sua proprietà, di colui di cui sono l'opera, fatti per durare secondo il suo piacere, non secondo quello degli uni verso gli altri:

and being furnished with like faculties, sharing all in one community of nature, there cannot be supposed any such subordination among us, that may authorize us to destroy one another, as if we were made for one another's uses, as the inferior ranks of creatures are for our's.

e, essendo dotati delle medesime facoltà, condividendo tutti un'unica comunità di natura, non si può supporre tra noi alcuna subordinazione tale da autorizzarci a distruggerci a vicenda, come se fossimo fatti per l'uso reciproco, così come le categorie inferiori delle creature sono fatte per il nostro.

Vocabulary

Ma: Ma — Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing contrast
sebbene: sebbene — Conjunction meaning 'although' or 'even though'
questo: questo — Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this'
sia: sia — Subjunctive form of 'essere', meaning 'be' or 'is'
uno: uno — Indefinite article or number meaning 'a' or 'one'
stato: stato — Noun meaning 'state' or past participle of 'essere'
di: di — Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'
libertà: libertà — Noun meaning 'freedom' or 'liberty'
non: non — Negation adverb meaning 'not'
è: è — Third person singular present of 'essere', meaning 'is'
tuttavia: tuttavia — Adverb meaning 'nevertheless' or 'however'
licenza: licenza — Noun meaning 'license', 'permission', or 'licentiousness'
benché: benché — Conjunction meaning 'although' or 'even though'
l'uomo: l'uomo — Noun with article meaning 'the man' or 'mankind'
in: in — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'within'
tale: tale — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'such' or 'this kind'
abbia: abbia — Subjunctive form of 'avere', meaning 'have'
una: una — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
incontrollabile: incontrollabile — Adjective meaning 'uncontrollable' or 'unchecked'
disporre: disporre — Verb meaning 'to dispose of' or 'to arrange'
della: della — Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the'
propria: propria — Possessive adjective meaning 'own' (feminine singular)
persona: persona — Noun meaning 'person' or 'individual'
o: o — Conjunction meaning 'or'
dei: dei — Contraction of 'di' and 'i', meaning 'of the' (masculine plural)
propri: propri — Possessive adjective meaning 'own' (masculine plural)
beni: beni — Noun meaning 'goods', 'assets', or 'possessions'
egli: egli — Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he'
ha: ha — Third person singular present of 'avere', meaning 'has'
la: la — Feminine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'her'
distruggere: distruggere — Verb meaning 'to destroy' or 'to ruin'
se: se — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or conjunction 'if'
stesso: stesso — Pronoun or adjective meaning 'himself' or 'same'
né: né — Conjunction meaning 'nor' or 'neither'
alcuna: alcuna — Indefinite adjective meaning 'any' or 'some' (feminine)
creatura: creatura — Noun meaning 'creature' or 'being'
suo: suo — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'
possesso: possesso — Noun meaning 'possession' or 'ownership'
quando: quando — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'
qualche: qualche — Indefinite adjective meaning 'some' or 'a certain'
uso: uso — Noun meaning 'use' or 'usage'
più: più — Adverb or adjective meaning 'more' or 'most'
nobile: nobile — Adjective meaning 'noble' or 'elevated'
sua: sua — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (feminine)
mera: mera — Adjective meaning 'mere' or 'pure' (feminine)
conservazione: conservazione — Noun meaning 'conservation' or 'self-preservation'
lo: lo — Masculine singular direct object pronoun meaning 'him' or 'it'
richieda: richieda — Subjunctive form of 'richiedere', meaning 'require' or 'demand'
Lo: Lo — Masculine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'it'
natura: natura — Noun meaning 'nature' or 'the natural world'
legge: legge — Noun meaning 'law' or third person singular of 'leggere'
che: che — Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that' or 'which'
governa: governa — Third person singular of 'governare', meaning 'governs' or 'rules'
quale: quale — Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'who'
obbliga: obbliga — Third person singular of 'obbligare', meaning 'obliges' or 'compels'
ciascuno: ciascuno — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'each one' or 'everyone'
e: e — Conjunction meaning 'and'
ragione: ragione — Noun meaning 'reason' or 'rational thought'
insegna: insegna — Third person singular of 'insegnare', meaning 'teaches'
a: a — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'
tutta: tutta — Adjective meaning 'all' or 'entire' (feminine singular)
l'umanità: l'umanità — Noun meaning 'humanity' or 'all of mankind'
chiunque: chiunque — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'whoever' or 'anyone who'
voglia: voglia — Subjunctive form of 'volere', meaning 'want' or 'wish'
consultarla: consultarla — Infinitive with pronoun meaning 'to consult it'
essendo: essendo — Gerund of 'essere', meaning 'being'
tutti: tutti — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'everyone' (masculine plural)
uguali: uguali — Adjective meaning 'equal' or 'the same' (plural)
indipendenti: indipendenti — Adjective meaning 'independent' or 'self-governing' (plural)
nessuno: nessuno — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'no one' or 'nobody'
dovrebbe: dovrebbe — Conditional of 'dovere', meaning 'should' or 'ought to'
recare: recare — Verb meaning 'to cause' or 'to bring'
danno: danno — Noun meaning 'harm', 'damage', or 'injury'
un: un — Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'
altro: altro — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'
nella: nella — Contraction of 'in' and 'la', meaning 'in the' (feminine)
vita: vita — Noun meaning 'life' or 'existence'
salute: salute — Noun meaning 'health' or 'wellbeing'
nei: nei — Contraction of 'in' and 'i', meaning 'in the' (masculine plural)
suoi: suoi — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (masculine plural)
poiché: poiché — Conjunction meaning 'since' or 'because'
gli: gli — Masculine plural article or indirect object pronoun meaning 'to him'
uomini: uomini — Noun meaning 'men' or 'human beings' (plural)
sono: sono — First or third person plural of 'essere', meaning 'am' or 'are'
opera: opera — Noun meaning 'work', 'creation', or 'opera'
unico: unico — Adjective meaning 'unique', 'only', or 'sole'
creatore: creatore — Noun meaning 'creator' or 'maker'
onnipotente: onnipotente — Adjective meaning 'omnipotent' or 'all-powerful'
infinitamente: infinitamente — Adverb meaning 'infinitely' or 'boundlessly'
saggio: saggio — Adjective meaning 'wise' or noun meaning 'essay'
servitori: servitori — Noun meaning 'servants' or 'attendants' (plural)
sovrano: sovrano — Noun or adjective meaning 'sovereign' or 'supreme ruler'
signore: signore — Noun meaning 'lord', 'master', or 'mister'
mandati: mandati — Past participle of 'mandare', meaning 'sent' (plural)
nel: nel — Contraction of 'in' and 'il', meaning 'in the' (masculine singular)
mondo: mondo — Noun meaning 'world' or 'earth'
per: per — Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', or 'through'
ordine: ordine — Noun meaning 'order', 'command', or 'arrangement'
i: i — Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'
fini: fini — Noun meaning 'ends', 'purposes', or 'goals' (plural)
essi: essi — Third person plural pronoun meaning 'they' (masculine)
proprietà: proprietà — Noun meaning 'property' or 'ownership'
colui: colui — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'he who' or 'that man'
cui: cui — Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'whom', or 'which'
l'opera: l'opera — Noun with article meaning 'the work' or 'the creation'
fatti: fatti — Past participle of 'fare' meaning 'made', or noun 'facts'
durare: durare — Verb meaning 'to last' or 'to endure'
secondo: secondo — Preposition meaning 'according to' or adjective 'second'
il: il — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'
piacere: piacere — Noun meaning 'pleasure' or verb 'to please'
quello: quello — Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'that'
degli: degli — Contraction of 'di' and 'gli', meaning 'of the' (masculine plural)
verso: verso — Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'towards'
altri: altri — Pronoun or adjective meaning 'others' or 'other people'
dotati: dotati — Past participle of 'dotare', meaning 'endowed' or 'gifted'
delle: delle — Contraction of 'di' and 'le', meaning 'of the' (feminine plural)
medesime: medesime — Adjective meaning 'the same' or 'identical' (feminine plural)
facoltà: facoltà — Noun meaning 'faculties', 'abilities', or 'powers'
condividendo: condividendo — Gerund of 'condividere', meaning 'sharing'
un'unica: un'unica — Adjective phrase meaning 'a single' or 'one sole' (feminine)
comunità: comunità — Noun meaning 'community' or 'group'
si: si — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or 'each other'
può: può — Third person singular of 'potere', meaning 'can' or 'may'
supporre: supporre — Verb meaning 'to suppose' or 'to assume'
tra: tra — Preposition meaning 'between', 'among', or 'within'
noi: noi — First person plural pronoun meaning 'us' or 'we'
subordinazione: subordinazione — Noun meaning 'subordination' or 'hierarchical dependency'
da: da — Preposition meaning 'from', 'by', or 'since'
autorizzarci: autorizzarci — Infinitive with pronoun meaning 'to authorize us'
distruggerci: distruggerci — Infinitive with pronoun meaning 'to destroy one another'
vicenda: vicenda — Noun meaning 'turn' or used in 'a vicenda' meaning 'each other'
come: come — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as', 'like', or 'how'
fossimo: fossimo — Imperfect subjunctive of 'essere', meaning 'we were'
l'uso: l'uso — Noun with article meaning 'the use' or 'the usage'
reciproco: reciproco — Adjective meaning 'reciprocal' or 'mutual'
così: così — Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'
le: le — Feminine plural definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'them'
categorie: categorie — Noun meaning 'categories' or 'classes' (plural)
inferiori: inferiori — Adjective meaning 'inferior' or 'lower' (plural)
creature: creature — Noun meaning 'creatures' or 'beings' (plural)
fatte: fatte — Past participle of 'fare', meaning 'made' (feminine plural)
nostro: nostro — Possessive adjective meaning 'our' (masculine singular)

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