Huangpengcheng Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
A strange sentence
this is a sentence found in a translation of La Boetie's famous treaties On Voluntary Servitude:
"Poor, wretched, and stupid peoples, nations determined on your own misfortune and blind to your own good!"
the word "nations" here is the trouble. it does not make any sense in the sentence, it seems to me at least.
if we change the word to "the power of the state", then everything seems to click.
or, should we read the sentence as:
"Poor, wretched, stupid peoples and nations determined on your own misfortune and blind to your own good!"
what do you think?
"Poor, wretched, and stupid peoples, nations determined on your own misfortune and blind to your own good!"
the word "nations" here is the trouble. it does not make any sense in the sentence, it seems to me at least.
if we change the word to "the power of the state", then everything seems to click.
or, should we read the sentence as:
"Poor, wretched, stupid peoples and nations determined on your own misfortune and blind to your own good!"
what do you think?
Top answer
I see nothing wrong with 'nations' (= 'states', 'national governments'). 'Power' would not be 'blind'.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
0
I see nothing wrong with 'nations' (= 'states', 'national governments'). 'Power' would not be 'blind'.
00
thanks.
don't you think that the words "peoples" and "nations" are almost mean the same?
don't you think that the words "peoples" and "nations" are almost mean the same?
00