Proverbs/Grammar ~ Grammar/Proverbs: Latin Lesson #70: Doubled Subject-Objects

The focus for today's lesson is doubled subject-object sayings, this time with -um. Here's a reminder of the doubled subject-objects you saw with -am earlier:

Cura curam trahit.
Gratia gratiam parit.
Pecunia pecuniam parit.
Iniuria non excusat iniuriam.

Remember: you can translate such sayings into English literally, or more idiomatically. Iniuria non excusat iniuriam literally reads "Wrong doesn't excuse wrong," but you can also translate it idiomatically, "One wrong doesn't excuse another."

I also need to say something here about diminutives. English has a few diminutive forms (dog ~ doggy), but that's nothing compared to the abundance of diminutive forms in Latin. We've inherited some Latin diminutives as English vocabulary; for example, Latin morsus is a "bite," and morsellus is a "little bite," which is where we get English "morsel." You're going to see a diminutive formed with the suffix -ellus in today's sayings.

Because English is not rich in diminutives, that makes it hard to translate Latin diminutives into English. Sometimes a Latin diminutive really does refer to something physically small, but more often it has other connotations: sometimes affectionate (sweet little something), but sometimes contemptuous (paltry little nothing). But, luckily, the goal is not to translate into English; the goal is to understand the Latin. So, as we encounter diminutives, like today, I'll try to remember to say something about the connotation even if it's hard or even impossible to translate into English.

Now here is the little slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before that appear in today's sayings:

And here are today's proverbs:

1. Nummus nummum parit.
Money produces money.
nummus nummum parit.

You know all the words of this saying already; nummum is the accusative of nummus.

As you can see, this saying is a variation on Pecunia pecuniam parit. The difference is that nummus literally means "coin" ("Coin produces coin"), and only by extension does it mean "money" in general. Compare the English saying, "It takes money to make money."

2. Caecus caecum ducit.
(One) blind (man) is-leading (another) blind (man).
caecus caecum ducit.

The verb ducit, "leads," is related to a word you already know: the noun dux, "leader." From this same root we get English words like the noun "duct" and compound verbs like "conduct" and "deduct," etc.

You already know the adjective caecus, which is being used substantively here: caecus means "blind (man)." The accusative form is caecum.

We use this same phrase in English: "the blind leading the blind" means that things are not going to end well. There is even an article in Wikipedia which documents the appearance of this saying across a range of cultures, including the Biblical Gospel of Matthew: "If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

3. Lupus lupum non edit.
(One) wolf doesn't eat (another) wolf.
lupus lupum non edit.

The verb edit means "eats," and you can see the root in English "edible."

You already know the noun lupus, and lupum is the accusative form.

You can contrast this Latin saying with the English saying "dog eat dog," which means people will harm even those close to them in their pursuit of success. This Latin saying maintains just the opposite: no matter how ruthless wolves might be, lupus lupum non edit.

4. Asinus asinum fricat.
(One) donkey scratches (another) donkey.
A-sinus A-sinum fricat.

The verb fricat means "scratches," and you can see this root in English "friction."

This saying is sarcastic; donkeys were not held in high regard, but that doesn't stop donkeys form respecting one another. We might not think well of donkeys, but they think highly of one another! Literally, they scratch one another; metaphorically, they praise each other, exchange compliments, etc.

Compare the English saying, "One hand washes another," which expresses a similar idea, but without the sarcastic implication.

5. Asinus asellum culpat.
(The) ass is-blaming (the) jackass.
A-sinus a-SEL-lum culpat.

You know the word asinus, and asellus is the diminutive form, with asellum as the accusative form.

The verb culpat, "blames," is related to the noun that you've seen already: culpa.

This is another sarcastic proverb; compare the English saying about "the pot calling the kettle black," which also has its own Wikipedia article.

In a different context, asellus could refer to a small donkey, or to a much loved donkey. Given this sarcastic context, though, the use is contemptuous, so I chose "jackass" as the English translation, and I rendered asinus as "ass" instead of donkey in order to emphasize the absurdity of one ass criticizing another.

Here's a recap: