Expert: Maria - 5/7/2009

Question
Hi Maria,

Could you tell me the Latin translation for the phrase "Do what's right, come what may"?  I would like to use it for an announcement.

Thank you,

Jesse

Answer
Hello,

the phrase "Do what's right, come what may” can be translated as follows:

-“Fac quod est iustum, accidat quod potest” (literal translation)

-“Fac iusta, omnia licet fiant!”, where  the second part of the sentence is a quotation from Seneca’s Moral Epistles, LXXI, paragraph 10.

So you can choose the one you like better.

Best regards,
Maria
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-Do = FAC (2nd.person singular, imperative of the verb FACIO, I do)

-What = QUOD (relative pronoun in the neuter)

-is = EST (from SUM, I am)

-right = IUSTUM (accusative neuter singular) or IUSTA (accusative neuter plural)

-come = ACCIDAT (3rd. person singular, hortatory subjunctive of ACCIDO) or LICET FIANT

-what = QUOD (see below) or OMNIA

-may = POTEST (from POSSUM)