Expert: Maria - 12/31/2007

Question
I've seen the Latin translations for "know thyself."  However, I feel a more appropriate axiom is "Be Thyself" as it implies knowing oneself as well as taking action on the knowledge.  Could you please give me the translation for "Be Thyself" or "Be Yourself?"

Thanks,

Jeff

Answer
Hello,

The jussive / hortatory phrase “Be Thyself" /  "Be Yourself” translates into Latin as follows:

-“Tu ipse esto” (literal )

-“Tuam sequere naturam ”, which means that you know your values, and are guided in all things by your own conscience since you know yourself and take action on the knowledge, as you say.

Best regards and Happy New Year,
Maria
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-Note that:

-Be = ESTO (2nd.person singular, imperative of SUM, I am. It is an imperative future as the imperative present of this verb  is not used in Latin)/ SEQUERE (imperative of SEQUOR)

-thyself/ yourself = TU  IPSE (nominative case) / TUAM NATURAM (accusative, as ‘sequor’ takes the accusative)

-The Latin phrase “Nosce te ipsum” (Know thyself)  is nothing but the translation of a Greek sentence "Gnothi sauton" which was on the pediment of the temple of Apollo at Delphi, Greece.