Tattoo “Step out. Not down.”

[Lego]

Hello

I am seeking a translation for the above statement for a tattoo. Translation has been sought already but secondary opinions required. (Unfortunately the first translation was received a couple of days ago and the provisional design consultation - but not actual session - booking is for this Monday 13th at 12 Noon UK time.)

The concept relates to responsibility and leadership: The idea is basically that sometimes, in order for a responsibility to be carried out, you may be better at conducting it elsewhere than where people expect you to. However, rather than resigning or stepping down from a leadership position, you simply continue to exercise your responsibility regardless.

Suggestion: “incede non recede”

Are there any phrases/idioms/sayings that I should perhaps look at?

Thank you for your time.

 

[Pacifica]

Hello,

The translation you've got isn't correct, not even in basic grammar.

Your request is a very difficult one because the English phrase is playing on words, using the word "step" in two different senses, one of them a special, idiomatic meaning of "stepping down" meaning to resign from an office. In Latin, however, it would be difficult to express boths meanings clearly using each time a similar word.

 

[Pacifica]

I've just had an idea; perhaps you could say loco decede, non officio = "Depart/step away from the place, not from your duty."

 

[Lego]

Hello, thank you for your reply.

The kind person helping me has not done Latin for many years and was struggling with this for various reasons.

I very much like the proposal that you have suggested. To clarify, does ‘place’ in this instance have the dual English meaning of ‘role/place in society’ and ‘place location’, or is it specific to only one of those meanings?

The expression you suggest very much carries the correct sentiment. I have also had ‘Decede, noli recedere.’ proposed, yet I cannot translate its closeness to root meaning. Any thoughts on that by way of comparison?

Thanks again

 

[Pacifica]

I very much like the proposal that you have suggested. To clarify, does ‘place’ in this instance have the dual English meaning of ‘role/place in society’ and ‘place location’, or is it specific to only one of those meanings?

Though I meant "place location" in this case, it can potentially mean either.

The expression you suggest very much carries the correct sentiment. I have also had ‘Decede, noli recedere.’ proposed, yet I cannot translate its closeness to root meaning. Any thoughts on that by way of comparison?

That is at least grammatically correct, but it doesn't convey your meaning clearly. If I came across the phrase somewhere without any context, I'd be unsure what exactly was meant. The words decede and recede can translate in various ways depending on context, but I guess the most literal translation would be "Go away, don't go/move back".

 

[Lego]

Thank you for the clarifications.

I think that an English non-double meaning of the statement is effectively:
“Absence from post is not absence from duty.” Is this still reflected by ‘Loco decede, non officio’?

 

[Lego]

Pacifica, how confident are you that the above interpretation “Absent from post is not absent from duty.” is still correct?

This is the leading translation that I have yet want to confirm prior to committing to it.

Thanks again for your assistance in this regard.

Thank you for the clarifications.

I think that an English non-double meaning of the statement is effectively:
“Absence from post is not absence from duty.” Is this still reflected by ‘Loco decede, non officio’?

 

[Iáson]

Not exactly, because the Latin is still in imperative form, but you have turned the English into a declarative statement.