Quote:
Originally Posted by Ishamoridin
Quote:
Originally Posted by hEad
Quote:
Originally Posted by capnq
The first half of that, while widely quoted, is a rather poor translation.
In the original German:
"Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein."
A better translation to English:
"He who fights monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
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I don't really see any differences between the two versions of the quote except that one takes 30 words to say it and the other 23? |
The difference, as I see it, is that the first translation precludes battling with monsters on the premise that you will become one, while the second merely warns of the danger that this might happen. |
There is no immutable truth in the word lest from the first definition. Indulging the activities of monsters raises the possibility of becoming one yet, it would be the capacities of the individual not the activity itself, which would finally decide who would become a monster and who wouldn't.
What I perceive both quotes to be clearly saying is that if you don't want to face the possibility of becoming a monster, don't play with them.
Both definitions say this, to me at least, by implication - one just says it with less words.
Welcome to the forum by the way.
I dug out my old Imperialism disk and gave it a whirl for old times sake - 4 hours went by, be great if someone would remake these games.