Tattoo Only in Death

[jcyph]

I would like to use "only in death does duty end" but as I understand latin the translation depends on the actual meaning of what your saying not just the words. Since I get my tattoos as personal meaning to myself and not cause they "look cool" I will settle for "only in death" I just want to be sure I don't put gibberish on my arm.

 

[Callaina]

but as I understand latin the translation depends on the actual meaning of what your saying not just the words.

I'm not sure what you mean by this -- can you explain? In any case, "Only in death does duty end" would make far more sense in Latin (or English) than "only in death", which a) is a sentence fragment and b) poses an additional issue in Latin.

Only in death does duty end = Solum in morte officium perit (one possibility; there may be better ones, so wait around for others' opinions, please.)

 

[Imperfacundus]

Maybe 'morte sólum vincula múneris solvuntur'

 

[Callaina]

Maybe 'morte sólum vincula múneris solvuntur'

I like this. Just translating literally for the OP: "Only by death are the bonds of duty loosed".

 

[jcyph]

I'm not sure what you mean by this -- can you explain? In any case, "Only in death does duty end" would make far more sense in Latin (or English) than "only in death", which a) is a sentence fragment and b) poses an additional issue in Latin.

Only in death does duty end = Solum in morte officium perit (one possibility; there may be better ones, so wait around for others' opinions, please.)

For me duty represents loyalty so it would actually mean "only in death does loyalty end"

 

[Callaina]

For me duty represents loyalty so it would actually mean "only in death does loyalty end"

Ok, that's an easy enough change to make. Adapting @Infacundus' proposed translation: Morte solum vincula fidelitatis solvuntur.

 

[Pacifica]

What about non nisi in morte finis est officii, "Only in death is the end of duty"?

If you just want "only in death", the corresponding part is non nisi in morte.