Beautiful Quote by Marjane Satrapi
“You know, they say in France that translation is like a woman: she is either beautiful or faithful.”
About This Quote
Source Graphic Novel: Persepolis, 2000
Compares translation to women, noting beauty or faithfulness but rarely both.
In simple terms: Translation is either beautiful or faithful.
Key Takeaway
Balance beauty and fidelity in translation.
Themes
language
art
culture
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary translation
- cross‑cultural communication
Key Concepts
translation theory
gender metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How to achieve both beauty and faithfulness?
- What compromises are acceptable?
A Different Perspective
Prioritizing one aspect may sacrifice the other.
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