Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Latin term or phrase:
Ex uno disce omnia
English translation:
from one (example), learn all
Added to glossary by
Joseph Brazauskas
Jan 6, 2009 14:33
15 yrs ago
Latin term
Ex uno disce omnia
Latin to English
Art/Literary
Other
Ex uno disce omnia
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Jan 9, 2009 14:30: Joseph Brazauskas Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
16 mins
Selected
from one (example), learn all
'Vno' may refer to a person, thing, or event. It isn't clear because it can be construed as masculine or neuter. But the obvious meaning is that one may judge all of the same type by reference to one example of such.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Stephen C. Farrand
: Absolutely; = "one example suffices". This is, of course, either a logical shorthand or a fallacious sort of reasoning. A glance at Google indicates no example older than 1824 (The Gentleman's Magazine).
19 mins
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Thank you.
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neutral |
Ellen Kraus
: what do you understand by all ? all examples " that´s very unlikely, indeed
1 hr
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Why is it unlikely?
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agree |
Celia Bodnar
2 hrs
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Thank you.
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agree |
Rebecca Garber
: This is the only answer that matches the original question. Had we more context, the other answers might prove conclusivey correct.
3 hrs
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I concur. Thank you.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank you very much!"
+1
6 mins
From one person shall learn all
I think this would be the best way to put this
7 mins
from one person learn all persons
But i should read omnes (instead of omnia, unless you wish to say from ..... you learn everything )
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Note added at 10 Min. (2009-01-06 14:44:09 GMT)
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OMNES instead of omnia (the latter being the neutral plural of omnium )
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Note added at 10 Min. (2009-01-06 14:44:09 GMT)
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OMNES instead of omnia (the latter being the neutral plural of omnium )
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Joseph Brazauskas
: Supposing that persons are referred to, yes. But that isn't clear.
10 mins
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I am almost sure that |
+2
21 mins
from one (person) you can get to know all men/the whole species
It could also mean this, based on similar proverbs.
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Note added at 23 mins (2009-01-06 14:57:25 GMT)
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Ab uno disce omne: ‘por un individuo se conoce a toda la especie’
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Note added at 32 mins (2009-01-06 15:06:24 GMT)
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ab uno disce omnes From Virgil's Aeneid. Refers to situations where a single example or observation indicates a general or universal truth.
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Note added at 23 mins (2009-01-06 14:57:25 GMT)
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Ab uno disce omne: ‘por un individuo se conoce a toda la especie’
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Note added at 32 mins (2009-01-06 15:06:24 GMT)
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ab uno disce omnes From Virgil's Aeneid. Refers to situations where a single example or observation indicates a general or universal truth.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Stephen C. Farrand
: Aeneid II, describing Sinon: undique visendi studio Troiana iuventus / circumfusa ruit certantque inludere capto. / accipe nunc Danaum insidias et crimine ab uno / disce omnis. This explains why one early referent remarks on the bad Latin.
34 mins
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Thanks!
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agree |
Joseph Brazauskas
: However, the text as given in the question reads 'omnia'.
2 hrs
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Thanks Joseph.
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Discussion
The original question was to explain the Latin quote (i.e. to translate it). It clearly made sense to a variety of people in the 19th century, most of whom (but not all) were native speakers of English. And in all cases it refers to things or events, not people.
I would compare the motto of the United States (also Virgilian in origin) e pluribus unum. No one ever translates that as "from many people, one".
I put it to you that 1) the phrase as posted makes perfect sense (although I am not certain that ex, instead of ab, is classical idiom); 2) Joseph's is the only translation that conveys the original's meaning clearly.