Destroy all that which is evil. So that which is good may...

[Anonymous]

Destroy all that which is evil, So that which is good

Hi,

I was watching one of my favourite movies the other day, The Boondock Saints, and I wanted to get a translation of a quote. I don't really have any idea when it comes to Latin, I studied French for a semester in my first year of university, but I couldn't invest the necessary time to learn it properly.
I absolutely love the sound of foreign languages, and eventually want to learn more French and Latin and Russian also.

Anyways, the movie has a lot of Latin phrases, and this quote is something I'd like to learn (if I get a translation I like, I might even turn it into a tattoo... cliche I know ).

The quote is:
Destroy all that which is evil, So that which is good may flourish.
Which is what is said when the brothers are called upon in prison.

I've researched this for a fair few hours, and spent a bit of time browsing around the forum reading, and find all of these discussions very interesting.
Anyways, the two translations I have come across are:
Destruite omnia mala, ut bona floreant
and
Malum dele, ut bonum floreat
I have no idea if these are anywhere near correct! I suppose it would be a difficult, since the English isn't particularly good, I suspect the translation would end up something similar to
Destroy all evil, so good may flourish

Thanks a ton for helping my curiosity.

Ta,
Ryan.

 

[Matthaeus]

Re: Translate my favourite quote

They're correct, but you have to realise the first sentence is addressing a 'you' plural, whereas the second is singular.

 

[bentaylor91]

hey guys...

just wanted this phrase translated into latin for a tattoo im thinking of getting.. kinda means alot to me cause of my heritage...

"Destroy all that which is evil. So that which is good may flourish.
And you shall have the protection of all the angels in heaven."

Thanks Guys...

 

[Iohannes Aurum]

Here goes (note that I am a novice in translating):
Dele omni mali (Destroy all evil)

Please wait for others to reply first, as I only provided the first sentence (and is just a novice attempt).

 

[Nikolaos]

Iohannes - doesn't delere take an accusative object?

Alright, my turn for the next sentence...

Ut illa quae bona sunt floreant.

I changed that which is to those <things> which are.

 

[Bitmap]

Iohannes - doesn't delere take an accusative object?

yes, it should be dele/everte/destrue omnia mala

Ut illa quae bona sunt floreant.

a subjunctive in the superordinate clause is often passed down to the relative clause as well (called attractio modi), so sint may sound a tad better than sunt
[/quote]

And you shall have the protection of all the angels in heaven.

something like
et omnes angeli caeli te custodient

 

[Nikolaos]

For reference, the full translation would be -

dele omnia mala
ut illa quae bona sint floreant
et omnes angeli caeli te custodient

Shall we consider this completed?

 

[Decimvs]

I want to say "custodiant" should be used here.

However, the OP has incorrect punctuation, which creates confusion.

"Destroy all that which is evil. So that which is good may flourish.
And you shall have the protection of all the angels in heaven."

Which of these are you trying to express?

1) Do X, so that Y and Z may happen.

2) Do X, so that Y may happen, and if Y happens Z shall happen.

3) If you do X so that Y will happen, then Z will happen.

 

[Bitmap]

1) Do X, so that Y and Z may happen.

I missed this interpretation ... that would of course require custodiant as it would belong to the final clause.

2) Do X, so that Y may happen, and if Y happens Z shall happen.

3) If you do X so that Y will happen, then Z will happen.

I think that's essentially the same in this phrase, at least if you translate it directly and do not insert any additional phrases.

I was a bit worried about the et though since I have a feeling that classical Latin doesn't usually say "do A and B will happen" that simply ... I think it would be more likely to use a subordinate clause for condition A with cum or si (or with a final clause as in option 1)... I've also seen an imperative followed by a future II a few times, but as I said, I'm unsure about the primitive et This seems to appear in Christian texts though (esto fidelis usque in mortem et tibi dabo coronam vitae), so it may work here as well.

 

[Damoetas]

Do X so that Y may happen.
And (then) Z will happen.

While the original punctuation may be technically "incorrect," it is really not unclear at all.

EDIT: Bitmap has already posted a reply.... I think the style of the English is borrowed from Biblical translations, so this use of et would be appropriate here.