--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: translations are like wives—either…" description: "\"“translations are like wives—either beautiful or faithful, seldom both.”\" — Raymond Ibrahim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/raymond-ibrahim-58408_translation_translations-are-like-wives-either-beaut_2499308.jpg" --- # translations are like wives—either beautiful or faithful… ![“translations are like wives—either beautiful or faithful, seldom both.” quote by Raymond Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/raymond-ibrahim-58408_translation_translations-are-like-wives-either-beaut_2499308.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/raymond-ibrahim-58408_translation_translations-are-like-wives-either-beaut_2499308.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/raymond-ibrahim-58408_translation_translations-are-like-wives-either-beaut_2499308.jpg) > ““translations are like wives—either beautiful or faithful, seldom both.”” [Raymond Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-ibrahim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Translations often sacrifice either beauty or fidelity; achieving both is rare. **In simple terms:** Translations trade beauty for faithfulness, rarely both. Key Takeaway Seek balance between meaning and style. Themes language translation beauty faithfulness artistry Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - literary translation - software localization - poetry rendering - cross‑cultural communication Key Concepts semiotics linguistics creative adaptation Questions to Reflect On - When is fidelity more important than elegance? - How can you preserve meaning while enhancing style? A Different Perspective Perfect translation may be impossible due to cultural nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-faithful-1045155/) [Faithful Seldom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful-seldom-1045153/) [Like Wives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-wives-275385/) [Translation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/translation/) [Translations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/translations/) [Wives Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wives-beautiful-1045154/) ## Related quotes > [Translation is like a woman. If it is beautiful, it is not faithful. If it is faithful, it is most certainly not beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-yevtushenko/translation-is-like-a-woman-if-it-is-beautiful-it-is-not-faithful-if/) [Yevgeny Yevtushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-yevtushenko/) > [You know, they say in France that translation is like a woman: she is either beautiful or faithful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/you-know-they-say-in-france-that-translation-is-like-a-woman-she-is/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [“You've got nothing to worry about, beautiful. I'm faithful to the core, a real one-woman man. And it excites the hell out of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hill/you-ve-got-nothing-to-worry-about-beautiful-i-m-faithful-to-the-core/) [Jamie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hill/) > [Wickets are like wives. You never know what to expect from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navjot-singh-sidhu/wickets-are-like-wives-you-never-know-what-to-expect-from-them/) [Navjot Singh Sidhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navjot-singh-sidhu/) > [Pitches are like wives, you never know how they're going to turn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-hutton/pitches-are-like-wives-you-never-know-how-they-re-going-to-turn-out/) [Len Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-hutton/) > [“The men don’t like their wives so much. They only get married if it’s a good idea.” Faith”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/the-men-don-t-like-their-wives-so-much-they-only-get-married-if-it-s/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [Wickets are like wives, you never know which way they will turn!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navjot-singh-sidhu/wickets-are-like-wives-you-never-know-which-way-they-will-turn/) [Navjot Singh Sidhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navjot-singh-sidhu/) > [Cars are like wives if it ain't yours, don't touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cars-are-like-wives-if-it-ain-t-yours-don-t-touch/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The vices and the virtues are written in a language the world cannot construe; it reads them in a vile translation, and the translators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-vices-and-the-virtues-are-written-in-a-language-the-world-cannot/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [silence is the language of god, all else is poor translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/silence-is-the-language-of-god-all-else-is-poor-translation/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [A screenplay is really an instruction manual, and it can be interpreted in any number of ways. The casting, the choice of location, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/a-screenplay-is-really-an-instruction-manual-and-it-can-be/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [The translation process becomes a highly subjective thing - turning reds and blues into black-and-whiteness. It's really bizarre for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-longo/the-translation-process-becomes-a-highly-subjective-thing-turning/) [Robert Longo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-longo/) > [The translation called good has original value as a work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedetto-croce/the-translation-called-good-has-original-value-as-a-work-of-art/) [Benedetto Croce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedetto-croce/) > [“My goal is to act as a faithful interpreter, preserving as much of the original's nuances of meaning as possible without embellishment or omission.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/my-goal-is-to-act-as-a-faithful-interpreter-preserving-as-much-of-the/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [Drill in exact translation is an excellent way of disposing the mind against that looseness and exaggeration with which the sensationalists have corrupted our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/drill-in-exact-translation-is-an-excellent-way-of-disposing-the-mind/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) ## More by Raymond Ibrahim > [“In March 2012, the current Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, declared that it is “necessary to destroy all the churches”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-ibrahim/in-march-2012-the-current-grand-mufti-of-saudi-arabia-abdul-aziz-bin/) [Raymond Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-ibrahim/) > [“If the infidels live among the Muslims, in accordance with the conditions set out by the Prophet—there is nothing wrong with it provided they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-ibrahim/if-the-infidels-live-among-the-muslims-in-accordance-with-the/) [Raymond Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-ibrahim/) > [“In December 2011 in supposedly moderate Malaysia, priests and church youth leaders were required to obtain “caroling permits” by submitting their full names and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-ibrahim/in-december-2011-in-supposedly-moderate-malaysia-priests-and-church/) [Raymond Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-ibrahim/) > [“The reason for this correlation is simple: Islam’s Sharia, its way, teaches intolerance and violence against non-Muslims, no less than it teaches that Muslim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-ibrahim/the-reason-for-this-correlation-is-simple-islam-s-sharia-its-way/) [Raymond Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-ibrahim/) [Explore all 5 Raymond Ibrahim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-ibrahim/) ## More Translation quotes > [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) > [Drill in exact translation is an excellent way of disposing the mind against that looseness and exaggeration with which the sensationalists have corrupted our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/drill-in-exact-translation-is-an-excellent-way-of-disposing-the-mind/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [Translating is a respectable, valuable, creative and worthwhile use of a human brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bellos/translating-is-a-respectable-valuable-creative-and-worthwhile-use-of/) [David Bellos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bellos/) > [ “\[reading a work in translation\] is like viewing a piece of Flemish tapestry on the wrong side.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cervantes/reading-a-work-in-translation-is-like-viewing-a-piece-of-flemish/) [Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cervantes/) > [“My goal is to act as a faithful interpreter, preserving as much of the original's nuances of meaning as possible without embellishment or omission.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/my-goal-is-to-act-as-a-faithful-interpreter-preserving-as-much-of-the/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [The translation called good has original value as a work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedetto-croce/the-translation-called-good-has-original-value-as-a-work-of-art/) [Benedetto Croce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedetto-croce/) > [“Translation is the other side of a tapestry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-sciascia/translation-is-the-other-side-of-a-tapestry/) [Leonardo Sciascia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-sciascia/) > [“ANNALS OF LANGUAGE WORD MAGIC How much really gets lost in translation? BY ADAM GOPNIK Once, in a restaurant in Italy with my family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/annals-of-language-word-magic-how-much-really-gets-lost-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['The Sound of Things Falling' may be a page turner, but it's also a deep meditation on fate and death. Even in translation, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-sound-of-things-falling-may-be-a-page-turner-but-it-s-also-a-deep/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [If a translation doesn't have obvious writing problems, it may seem quite all right at first glance. We readers, after all, quickly adapt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/if-a-translation-doesn-t-have-obvious-writing-problems-it-may-seem/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [The translation process becomes a highly subjective thing - turning reds and blues into black-and-whiteness. It's really bizarre for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-longo/the-translation-process-becomes-a-highly-subjective-thing-turning/) [Robert Longo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-longo/) > [A screenplay is really an instruction manual, and it can be interpreted in any number of ways. The casting, the choice of location, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/a-screenplay-is-really-an-instruction-manual-and-it-can-be/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Translated literature can be fascinating. There's something so intriguing about reading the text second hand - a piece of prose that has already been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kitamura/translated-literature-can-be-fascinating-there-s-something-so/) [Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/) > [silence is the language of god, all else is poor translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/silence-is-the-language-of-god-all-else-is-poor-translation/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [In English, there is one word for sister. In Chinese, there are two separate words, for elder and younger sister. This is actually a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ng/in-english-there-is-one-word-for-sister-in-chinese-there-are-two/) [Andrew Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ng/) [Browse all 365 Translation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/translation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“translations are like wives—either beautiful or faithful, seldom both.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raymond Ibrahim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-ibrahim/translations-are-like-wives-either-beautiful-or-faithful-seldom-both/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Translation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-ibrahim/translations-are-like-wives-either-beautiful-or-faithful-seldom-both/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/raymond-ibrahim-58408_translation_translations-are-like-wives-either-beaut_2499308.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/raymond-ibrahim-58408_translation_translations-are-like-wives-either-beaut_2499308.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/raymond-ibrahim-58408_translation_translations-are-like-wives-either-beaut_2499308.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“translations are like wives—either beautiful or faithful, seldom both.” — Raymond Ibrahim", "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": "Raymond Ibrahim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-ibrahim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“translations are like wives—either beautiful or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-ibrahim/translations-are-like-wives-either-beautiful-or-faithful-seldom-both/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-ibrahim/translations-are-like-wives-either-beautiful-or-faithful-seldom-both/#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 } } ] } ```