Senjecas Sayings

• Pity him who thinks there is only one way to make a language.
  • ȝo se̋m kűȝo ȝe̋kam vą̋nu vų̋la—őantum bűłe:

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

• Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.
  • tús ṁenaþős gővtam tús kı̋aþom e̋su he̋ne:

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

• Every time you open your mouth, people can read your mind.
  • vísum tús ǫ̋som t̬ı̋va. tús me̋ina ð̣ą̋aþa ı̋lu mą̋ᵹa:

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

• Knowledge is knowing that the tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.
  • są̋ra novt̬ǫ̋kim mą̋lom e̋su są̋ru e̋sa: są̋sta mąlme̋icom èna nim ðȩ̋u ne są̋ru e̋sa:

są̋r-a

novt̬ǫ̋k-im

mą̋l-om

e̋s-u

są̋r-u

e̋s-a

są̋st-a

mąl-me̋ic-om

èna

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

• He who knows and knows not he knows, (he) is asleep. Wake him. He who knows and knows he knows, (he) is wise. Follow him.
  • minum są̋ru są̋rantu ne są̋rantu še̋pa: num ze̋le: minum są̋ru są̋rantu są̋rantu są̋ca: num da̋ge:

mi-n-um

są̋r-u

są̋r-ant-u

ne

są̋r-ant-u

še̋p-a

n-um

ze̋l-e

mi-n-um

są̋r-u

są̋r-ant-u

są̋r-ant-u

są̋ca

n-um

da̋g-e

self-3-MOT.SG

know-SUP

know-A.PTCP-NOM.SG

not

know-A.PTCP-NOM.SG

sleep-IND

3-MOT.SG

wake-IM'

self-3-MOT.SG

know-SUP

know-A.PTCP-NOM.SG

know-A.PTCP-NOM.SG

be.wise-IND

3-MOT.SG

follow-IMP

• 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 őpu mąᵹǫ̋nu—þǫ́si őpu kı̋þa néxum—ų̋þu vų̋a sómi kísu őpu áfa sa̋baþu ilǫ̋nu:

xą́lu

őp-u

mąᵹ-ǫ̋n-u

þǫ́si

őp-u

kı̋þ-a

néxum

ų̋þ-u

vų̋-a

sómi

kísu

őp-u

áfa

sa̋b-aþ-u

il-ǫ̋n-u

how

vote-SUP

be.able-AGENT-NOM.SG

but

know-A.PTCP-NOM.SG

vote-SUP

take.time-IND

never

fortunate~COMP-NOM.SG

be-IND

than

at.all

from

prevent-P.PTCP-NOM.SG

become-AGENT-NOM.SG

• Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.
  • toą́lu sa̋ɱe—tą́di f̣únus tum ą̋ɱu pı̨̋ro: toą́lu ą̋ɱe—tą́di f̣únus tús o sa̋ɱu pı̨̋ro:

toą́lu

sa̋ɱ-e

tą́di

f̣ún-us

t-um

ą̋ɱ-u

pı̨̋r-o

toą́lu

ą̋ɱ-e

tą́di

f̣ún-us

t-ús

o

sa̋ɱ-u

pı̨̋r-o

in.such.a.way

speak-IMP

so.that

other-NOM.PL

2-MOT.SG

listen.to-SUP

desire-SBJV

in.such.a.way

listen-IMP

so.that

other-NOM.PL

2-STA.SG

to

speak.to-SUP

desire-SBJV

• Think for yourself (and) let others enjoy the privilege of doing so, too.
  • mitús éra me̋ine: ítu kı̋u boþı̋tom ba̋ȝu étu f̣únun he̋ne:

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

• Being intelligent doesn't prevent one from believing in stupid things, it just expands the realm of possibilities.
  • są̋ru vų̋u mǫ̋ɱon őu áfa tı̨̋ðum sa̋ba ne: átu mąᵹta̋m ą̋ram ą̋ra:

są̋r-u	vų̋-u	mǫ̋ɱ-on	ő-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

• Do not envy those above you, nor despise those below you.
  • tús tűȝa űpun na̋ȝe ne. tús tűȝa ne̋run va̋ise nék̬e:

t-ús	tűȝa	űp-un	na̋ȝ-e	ne	t-ús	tűȝa	ne̋r-un	va̋is-e	né-k̬e
2-STA.SG	with.respect.to	upper-MOT.PL	envy-IMP	not	2-STA.SG	with.respect.to	below-MOT.PL	despise-IMP	not-and

• If you wish to bake an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. (Carl Sagan)
  • tu ébi abélvǫᵹkőðom vǫ̋gu łe̋lo. toári sémtu alme̋ȝom nę̋ru ke̋lo:

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