--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All translation is a compromise - the…" description: "\"All translation is a compromise - the effort to be literal and the effort to be idiomatic.\" — Benjamin Jowett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/benjamin-jowett-20480_compromise_all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effo_2341894.jpg" --- # All translation is a compromise - the effort to be literal… ![“All translation is a compromise - the effort to be literal and the effort to be idiomatic.” quote by Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/benjamin-jowett-20480_compromise_all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effo_2341894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/benjamin-jowett-20480_compromise_all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effo_2341894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/benjamin-jowett-20480_compromise_all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effo_2341894.jpg) > “All translation is a compromise - the effort to be literal and the effort to be idiomatic.” [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing literal accuracy with natural expression is essential; perfect fidelity is impossible. **In simple terms:** Translation must balance literalness and idiom. Key Takeaway Choose the best fit for meaning. Themes translation language balance Mood thoughtful analytical Type explanatory reflective When to use this quote - literary translation - technical manuals - subtitling - interpretation - marketing copy Key Concepts semantics pragmatics cultural nuance Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when to prioritize meaning over word‑for‑word accuracy? - What cultural elements risk loss in literal translation? A Different Perspective Literal focus can obscure cultural context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Translations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/translations/) ## Related quotes > [The word mantra comes from two Sanskrit words man, ("to think") and tra ("tool'). So the literal translation is "a tool of thought." And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/the-word-mantra-comes-from-two-sanskrit-words-man-to-think-and-tra/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I tend to be kind of literal about translation. I think it's important to present the writer as closely as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-goldstein/i-tend-to-be-kind-of-literal-about-translation-i-think-it-s-important/) [Ann Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-goldstein/) > [Well, the role of our "allies," in my view, is a scandal. 53 other countries cooperated in the kidnapping, "extraordinary rendition," of suspected terrorists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/well-the-role-of-our-allies-in-my-view-is-a-scandal-53-other/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [In matters of observation chance favors only the prepared mind. (not literal translation) - Dan's les champs de observation le hasard ne favorise que…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/in-matters-of-observation-chance-favors-only-the-prepared-mind-not/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [It's impossible to make a movie out of 'Naked Lunch.' A literal translation just wouldn't work. It would cost $400 million to make and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/it-s-impossible-to-make-a-movie-out-of-naked-lunch-a-literal/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) > [I sort of took the literal term of 'The Cleaner,' and I started bringing janitorial items to the ring with me, so I took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-omega/i-sort-of-took-the-literal-term-of-the-cleaner-and-i-started-bringing/) [Kenny Omega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-omega/) > [ What's cool is that in the story of the movie \[The Hangover\] our characters are also really kind of getting to know each other… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/what-s-cool-is-that-in-the-story-of-the-movie-the-hangover-our/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [“We're literal people, you and me. Whatever the most obvious interpretation is, that's our truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenna-yovanoff/we-re-literal-people-you-and-me-whatever-the-most-obvious/) [Brenna Yovanoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenna-yovanoff/) > [It is evident, indeed, that such a doctrine, taken by itself in a literal manner, had no future. The world, in continuing to exist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/it-is-evident-indeed-that-such-a-doctrine-taken-by-itself-in-a/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [Let every one of us cultivate, in every word that issues from our mouth, absolute truth. I say cultivate, because to very few people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/let-every-one-of-us-cultivate-in-every-word-that-issues-from-our/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [The highest art of professional management requires the literal ability to 'smell' a 'real fact' from all others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-geneen/the-highest-art-of-professional-management-requires-the-literal/) [Harold Geneen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-geneen/) > [Fanciful spiritualizing, so far from yielding God's meaning, actually obscured it. The literal sense is itself the spiritual sense, coming from God and leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/fanciful-spiritualizing-so-far-from-yielding-god-s-meaning-actually/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [People are incredibly literal sometimes in how they view you. You have dark hair and pale skin? You must be brooding. The second you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paquin/people-are-incredibly-literal-sometimes-in-how-they-view-you-you-have/) [Anna Paquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paquin/) > [And Christ was born into the world as the literal Son of this Holy Being; he was born in the same personal, real, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-r-mcconkie/and-christ-was-born-into-the-world-as-the-literal-son-of-this-holy/) [Bruce R. McConkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-r-mcconkie/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) ## More by Benjamin Jowett > [ Jowett, in his day, did probably more than any other single man to let some fresh air into the exhausted atmosphere of the \[Oxford\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/jowett-in-his-day-did-probably-more-than-any-other-single-man-to-let/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [One man is as good as another until he has written a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/one-man-is-as-good-as-another-until-he-has-written-a-book/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [There is a great deal of hard lying in the world; especially among people whose characters are above suspicion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/there-is-a-great-deal-of-hard-lying-in-the-world-especially-among/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [“Atheism or similar charges was not unusual among intellectuals, nor condemned by the masses. The prize-winning plays of Aristophanes were not merely atheist, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/atheism-or-similar-charges-was-not-unusual-among-intellectuals-nor/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [You must believe in God, in spite of what the clergy say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/you-must-believe-in-god-in-spite-of-what-the-clergy-say/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [Give the clergy your sympathy; don't give them anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/give-the-clergy-your-sympathy-don-t-give-them-anything-else/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [Nowhere probably is there more true feeling, and nowhere worse taste, than in a churchyard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/nowhere-probably-is-there-more-true-feeling-and-nowhere-worse-taste/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [To teach a man how he may learn to grow independently, and for himself, is perhaps the greatest service that one man can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/to-teach-a-man-how-he-may-learn-to-grow-independently-and-for-himself/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [“The real measure of our wealth is how much we'd be worth if we lost all our money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/the-real-measure-of-our-wealth-is-how-much-we-d-be-worth-if-we-lost/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [Logic is neither a science nor an art, but a dodge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/logic-is-neither-a-science-nor-an-art-but-a-dodge/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [Young men make great mistakes in life; for one thing, they idealize love too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/young-men-make-great-mistakes-in-life-for-one-thing-they-idealize/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [Research ! A mere excuse for idleness; it has never achieved, and will never achieve any results of the slightest value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/research-a-mere-excuse-for-idleness-it-has-never-achieved-and-will/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [The way to get things done is not to mind who gets the credit for doing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/the-way-to-get-things-done-is-not-to-mind-who-gets-the-credit-for/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [If you don't find a God by five o'clock this afternoon you must leave the college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/if-you-don-t-find-a-god-by-five-o-clock-this-afternoon-you-must-leave/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) > [Nowhere probably is there more true feeling, and nowhere worse taste, than in a churchyard - both as regards the monuments and the inscriptions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/nowhere-probably-is-there-more-true-feeling-and-nowhere-worse-taste-2/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) [Explore all 29 Benjamin Jowett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) ## More Compromise quotes > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) Ludwig Erhard > [Real love is not based upon romance,candle light,dinner and walk along beach.Infact,It's based on care,compromise,respect and trust..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-love-is-not-based-upon-romance-candle-light-dinner-and-walk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I’m not sure sex qualifies as R and R, but it’s a compromise I can live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-morgen/i-m-not-sure-sex-qualifies-as-r-and-r-but-it-s-a-compromise-i-can/) Shelby Morgen > [You know what the Englishman's idea of compromise is? He says, Some people say there is a God. Some people say there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/you-know-what-the-englishman-s-idea-of-compromise-is-he-says-some/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/the-human-spirit-will-not-invest-itself-in-a-compromise/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“And what would you like, Sharie?" asked Miss Mush. "What do you have?" asked Sharie. "Potato salad". "What else is there?" asked Sharie. "Nothing"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/and-what-would-you-like-sharie-asked-miss-mush-what-do-you-have-asked/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) > [Love is not only about romance, candle-lit dinners and walking hand in hand. In fact, real love is about a lifetime of compromise, commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aarti-khurana/love-is-not-only-about-romance-candle-lit-dinners-and-walking-hand-in/) [Aarti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aarti-khurana/) [Browse all 2,076 Compromise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All translation is a compromise - the effort to be literal and the effort to be idiomatic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Jowett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effort-to-be-literal-and-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compromise" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effort-to-be-literal-and-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/benjamin-jowett-20480_compromise_all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effo_2341894.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/benjamin-jowett-20480_compromise_all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effo_2341894.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/benjamin-jowett-20480_compromise_all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effo_2341894.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All translation is a compromise - the effort to be literal and the effort to be idiomatic.” — Benjamin Jowett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Jowett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All translation is a compromise -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effort-to-be-literal-and-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/all-translation-is-a-compromise-the-effort-to-be-literal-and-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```