Senjecas Sayings

• ȝo se̋m kűȝo ȝe̋kam vą̋nu vų̋la—na̋mantum bűłe:

Pity him who thinks there is only one way to make a language.

ȝo	se̋m	kűȝ-o	ȝe̋k-am	vą̋n-u	vų̋l-a	nam̋-a-nt-um	bűł-e
that	one	method-NOM.SG	language-MOT.SG	create-SUP	there.be-IND	believe-IND-APTCP-MOT.SG	pity-IMP

• tús ṁenaþős gővtam tús kı̋aþom e̋su he̋ne:

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.

t-ús	ṁen-aþ-ős	gővt-am	t-ús	kı̋-a-þ-om	e̋s-u	he̋n-e
2-STA.SG	love-PPTCP-STA.SG	beauty-MOT.SG	2-STA.SG	do-IND-PPTCP-MOT.SG	be-SUP	allow-IMP

• vísum tús ǫ̋som t̬ı̋va. tús me̋ina ð̣ą̋aþa ı̋lu mą̋ᵹa:

Every time you open your mouth, people can read your mind.

vísum	t-ús	ǫ̋s-om	t̬ı̋v-a	t-ús	me̋in-a	ð̣ą̋-a-þ-a	ı̋l-u	mą̋ᵹ-a
every.time	2-STA.SG	mouth-MOT.SG	2-STA.SG	open-IND	mind-NOM.-SG	read-IND-PPTCP-NOM.SG	become-SUP	be.able-IND

• są̋ra novt̬ǫ̋kim mą̋lom e̋su są̋ru e̋sa: są̋sta mąlme̋icom éna nim ðȩ̋u ne są̋ru e̋sa:

Knowledge is knowing that the tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.

są̋r-a	novt̬ǫ̋k-im	mą̋l-om	e̋s-u	są̋r-u	e̋s-a	są̋st-a	mąl-me̋ic-om	éna	n-im	ðȩ̋-u	ne	są̋r-u	e̋s-a
knowledge-NOM.SG	tomato-MOT.SG	fruit-MOT.SG	be-SUP	know-SUP	be-IND	wisdom-NOM.SG	fruit-mix-MOT.SG	in	3-MOT.SG	put-SUP	not	know-SUP	be-IND

• xą́lu őpu mą̋ᵹlu. þǫ́si őpu kı̋þa néxum. ų̋þu vų̋a
• sómi kísu őpu áfa sa̋baþu ı̋lɘlu:

How is a person who can vote, but who never takes time to do it, any better off

than the person who is prevented from voting at all?

xą́lu	őp-u	mą̋ᵹ-l-u	þǫ́si	őp-u	kı̋þ-a	néxum	uþ~űþ-u	vų̋-a
how	vote-SUP	be.able-AGENT-NOM.SG	but	vote-SUP	take.time-IND	never	COMP~fortunate-NOM.SG	be-IND

sómi	kísu	őp-u	áfa	sa̋b-a-þ-u	il-ɘ-l-u
than	at.all	vote-SUP	from	prevent-IND-PPTCP-NOM.SG	become-EUPH-AGENT-NOM.SG

• toą́lu sa̋ɱe. tą́di f̣únus tum ą̋ɱu pı̨̋ro: toą́lu ą̋ɱe. tą́di f̣únus tús o sa̋ɱu pı̨̋ro:

Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.

toą́l-u	sa̋ɱ-e	tą́di	f̣ún-us	t-um	ą̋ɱ-u	pı̨̋r-o	toą́l-u	ą̋ɱ-e	tą́di	f̣ún-us	t-ús	o	sa̋ɱ-u	pı̨̋r-o
such-ADV	speak-IMP	so.that	other-NOM.PL	2-MOT.SG	listen.to-SUP	desire-SBJV	such-ADV	listen-IMP	so.that	other-NOM.PL	2-STA.SG	to	speak.to-SUP	desire-SBJV

• mi-tús éra me̋ine: ítu kı̋u boþı̋tom ba̋ȝu étu f̣únun he̋ne:

Think for yourself (and) let others enjoy the privilege of doing so, too.

mi=t-ús	éra	me̋in-e	ítu	kı̋-u	boþı̋t-om	ba̋ȝ-u	étu	f̣ún-un	he̋n-e
self=2-STA.SG	for	think-IMP	so	do-SUP	privilege-MOT.SG	enjoy-SUP	too	other-MOT.PL	let-IMP

• są̋ru vų̋u mǫ̋ɱon namu áfa tı̨̋ðum sa̋ba ne: átu mąᵹta̋m ą̋ram ą̋ra:

Being intelligent doesn't prevent one from believing in stupid things, it just expands the realm of possibilities.

są̋r-u	vų̋-u	mǫ̋ɱ-on	na̋m–u	áfa	tı̨̋ð-um	sa̋b-a	ne	átu	mąᵹt-a̋m	ą̋r-am	ą̋r-a
intelligent-NOM.SG	be-SUP	stupid-MOT.PL	believe-SUP	from	one-MOT.SG	prevent-IND	not	just	possibility-STA.PL	realm-MOT.SG	expand-IND

• tús úpa vűantun na̋ȝe ne. tús néra vűantun va̋ise nék̬e:

Do not envy those above you, nor despise those below you.

t-ús	úpa	vű-a-nt-un	na̋ȝ-e	ne	t-ús	néra	vű-a-nt-un	va̋is-e	né-k̬e
2-STA.SG	above	be-IND-APTCP-MOT.PL	envy-IMP	not	2-STA.SG	below	be-IND-APTCP-MOT.PL	despise-IMP	not-and

• ébi tu abélvǫᵹkőðom vǫ̋gu łe̋lo. toári sémtu alme̋ȝom nę̋ru ke̋lo:

If you wish to bake an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. (Carl Sagan)

ébi	t-u	abél.vǫᵹkőð-om	vǫ̋g-u	łe̋l-o	toári	sémt-u	alme̋ȝ-om	nę̋r-u	ke̋l-o
if	2-NOM.SG	apple.pie-MOT.SG	bake-SUP	wish-SBJV	then	first-ADV	universe-MOT.SG	invent-SUP	must-SBJV

• mi-num są̋ru są̋rantu ne są̋rantu še̋pa: num ze̋le:

He who knows and knows not he knows, (he) is asleep. Wake him.

• mi-num są̋ru są̋rantu są̋rantu są̋ca: num da̋ge:

He who knows and knows he knows, (he) is wise. Follow him.

mi=n-um	są̋r-u	są̋r-a-nt-u	ne	są̋r-a-nt-u	še̋p-a	n-um	ze̋l-e
self=3-MOT.SG	know-SUP	know—IND-APTCP-NOM.SG	not	know-IND-APTCP-NOM.SG	sleep-IND	3-MOT.SG	wake-IMP

mi-n-um	są̋r-u	są̋r-a-nt-u	są̋r-a-nt-u	są̋ca	n-um	da̋g-e
self=3-MOT.SG	know-SUP	know-IND-APTCP-NOM.SG	know-IND-APTCP-NOM.SG	be.wise-IND	3-MOT.SG	follow-IMP