Dearest Son Quote by Evagrius
““Evagrius, presbyter, to his dearest son Innocent, greeting in the Lord. A word-for-word translation from one language to another obscures the sense and as it were chokes the wheat with luxuriant grass. For in slavishly following cases and constructions, the language scarcely explains by lengthy periphrasis what it might state by concise expression. To avoid this, I have at your request rendered the Life of the blessed Antony in such a way as to give the full sense, but cut short somewhat of the words. Let others try to catch syllables and letters; you seek the meaning.””
About This Quote
Literal translation can drown meaning in excess words; concise rendering preserves the original sense.
In simple terms: Avoid over‑translation; keep language tight.
Key Takeaway
Brevity protects meaning.
Themes
translation
conciseness
communication
interpretation
Mood
thoughtful
cautious
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- translating ancient texts
- technical manuals
- legal contracts
Key Concepts
semantic fidelity
linguistic economy
Practical Applications
- use summary versions
- focus on core ideas
Questions to Reflect On
- When does brevity sacrifice essential detail?
- How to balance fidelity and clarity?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes nuance is lost when cutting too aggressively.
