Sedulia's Quotations

Joseph Conrad: The revolutionary spirit is mighty convenient

The revolutionary spirit is mighty convenient in this, that it frees one from all scruples as regards ideas. Its hard, absolute optimism is repulsive to my mind by the menace of fanaticism and intolerance it contains.

     --Joseph Conrad (pseudonym of Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski) (1857-1924), in clairvoyant "Preface" to The Nigger of the Narcissus (1897)

Prayers from King's College Chapel, Cambridge University

O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast created and redeemed me, and hast brought me into that which now I am; thou knowest what thou wouldst do with me; do with me according to thy will, for thy tender mercy's sake. Amen.

      --Prayer of King Henry VI of England, founder of King's College, Cambridge University

Let the light of truth, and the help of grace, be vital principles of action in us; that we may, in the time of life, attain the ends for which we live; and that our religion, which begins in knowledge, may proceed in action, settle in temper, and end in happiness: that we may make it the work and business of our lives, to reconcile the temper of our spirits to the rule of righteousness; and to incorporate the principles of religion into the complexion of our minds; that what we attribute to God, as his moral excellencies and perfections; we may propose to our selves, as matter of practice and imitation; (s)o that what is our best employment in this world, and will be our only employment in the next, may be our free choice, and our transcendent pleasure. Amen.

   --Prayer of Benjamin Whichcote (1609-1683), provost 1644-1660

O Lord and King, who art full of compassion, God of the spirits of all flesh, in whose hand are the souls of the living and the dead, receive, we beseech thee, in thy great loving-kindness the soul of our brother who hath been gathered unto his people. Have mercy upon him; pardon all his transgressions; for there is none righteous upon the earth, who doeth only good, and sinneth not. Remember unto him the righteousness which he wrought, and let his reward be with him, and his recompense before him. Shelter his soul in the shadow of thy wings. Make known to him the path of life: in thy presence is fulness [sic] of joy; at thy right hand, bliss for evermore.

O Lord, who healest the broken-hearted and bindest up their wounds, grant thy consolation unto the mourners. Strengthen and support them in the day of their grief and sorrow; and remember them for a long and good life. Put into their hearts the fear and love of thee, that they may serve thee with a perfect heart; and let their latter end be peace. Amen.

    --"A Hebrew Prayer for the Dead"

Welsh proverbs

A ddarleno ystyried.
Let him who reads reflect.

A ddarleno, ystyried; a ystyrio, cofied; a gofio, gwnaed; a wnel, parhaed. 
Let him who reads, reflect; let him who reflects, remember; let him who remembers, act; let him who acts, continue.

A ddialo air hagr rhoed atteb têg.
To revenge a harsh word give a gentle reply.

A ddwg angeu nid adfur.
What death takes it will not restore.

A ddywedo pob un gwir yw.
What everyone says is true.

A elwir yn gall a gais fod yn gall.
He who is called wise will seek to be wise.

A fo gâr iddo ei hun a gaiff pob un arall yn gâr iddo.
He who is his own friend will have the friendship of others.

A fo ysgafn galon ef a gân.
The light-hearted will sing.

Some of the translations below are rhymed (which I don't approve of because it almost always changes the meaning) and from a different collection, Welsh Proverbs with English Translations, by Henry Halford Vaughan (1811-1885). However, in Vaughan's era translations were often into rhyme. The original translations are from The Proverbs of Wales: A Collection of Welsh Proverbs (1885), with English Translations, by T. R. Roberts.

Y fyno barhau yn hir yn ieuanc aed yn ebrwydd yn hên.
He who wishes to be young long let him soon become old.
He will his youth the latest hold who earliest treats himself as old. [V]

A fyno barch bid gadarn.
He who would be respected let him be strong.

A fyno Duw derfid.
What God wills let it be done.

A fyno ei fodd porthed amynedd.
It is not easy to detain time.

A fyno wrandaw bid gymhan.
He who ??

A fyno flaenori boed wybodgar.
He who would lead let him love knowledge.

A fyno glod bid farw.
He who would have fame let him die.

A fyno iechyd bid lawen.
He who would be healthy let him be cheerful.

A gano yn ei wely, a grïa cyn cysgu.
He who wishes his neighbour evil it will come to himself.

A garer neu gaseir a welir o bell.
He who is loved or hated is seen afar off.

Adail dedwydd yn ddiddos.
The house of the happy is secure.

Adar o'r unlliw a hedant i'r unlle.
Birds of the same color fly to the same place.

Adar y nos.
Bird of the night.

Adfyd a bair i rai edrych o'u deutu.
Adversity makes people look around them.

Adfyd a ddaw a dysg yn ei llaw.
Adversity comes with instruction in its hand.

Adfyd a phall a wnant ddyn yn gall.
Adversity and loss make a man wise.

Adwaen laeth can nis dyfnwyf.
I know milk though I am not used to it.

Addaw y môr a'r mynydd.
To promise the sea and mountain.

Addef y tewi.
Silence is admission.

Ail natur yw greddf arferiad.
Practice is second nature.

Allan o olwg allan o feddwl.
Out of sight out of mind.

Am y tywydd goreu tewi.
It is best to be silent about the weather.

Aml bai lle nis cerir.
Many the faults where there is no love.

Aml gnoc a dyr y garreg.
Frequent blows will break the stone.

Amlwg câs a chariad.
Hatred and love are conspicuous.

Ammod a dỳr ddefod.
An agreement will break a custom.

Anaml lles o rodio'r nos.
Seldom is there any good from wandering at night.

Anghen a dyr ddeddf.
Necessity will break the law.

Anghwanegid mefl mawrair.
The greater the name,
the greater its blame.

Ar ddiwedd y mae barnu.
One should judge at the conclusion.

Ar ni roddo a garo, ni chaiff a ddymano. 
[He who does not give to the loved ones, he shall not be desired?]

Arf glew yn ei galon.
The weapon of the brave in his heart.

Arglwydd gwan, gwae ei waâs.
Woe to the servant of a feeble lord.

Asgre lân, diogel ei pherchen.
Safe is the owner of a clear conscience.

Ateb araf gan ddysgedig. 
The learned and wise
give gentle replies.

Blwyddyn o eira, blwyddyn o lawndra.
Year of snow, year of plenty.

Bo tynaf y llinyn cyntaf y tỳr.
The tighter the string the sooner will it break.

Bum gall unwaith, hyny oedd llefain pan y’m ganed.
I was wise once, that was in crying when I was born.

Byr ei hun, hir ei hoedl.
A blow to a servant is long remembered.

Doeth pawb tra tawo.
All are wise while silent.

Hyr nych y angeu.
Long pining to death.

Ni cheiff chwedl nid êl o’i del.
He gets no news who goes not out of his house.

Ni wŷr neb lai na’r hwn a wŷr y cyfan.
No one knows less than he who knows all.

Nid hawdd gwybod y cyfan.
It is not easy to know everything.

Pob hyr nychdod hyr angeu.
Every long affliction leads to death.

Plant gwirionedd yw hen ddiarhebion.
Old proverbs are the children of truth.

Rhydd barn i bawb.
Neither the tyrant, nor his minion
can rob the least of his opinion. [V]

Y doeth ni ddywed a ŵyr.
The wise will not say what he knows.

–I copied these proverbs from an old book many years ago at Sterling Library. The book was at least a hundred years old then. Unfortunately I did not write down its name, or have time to write down all the translations.

[Update: it was The Proverbs of Wales: A Collection of Welsh Proverbs, with English Translations (1885) by T. R. Roberts. I must have added some in, as there are some I can't find  in the Roberts or Vaughan books.]

If anyone knows what the untranslated proverbs mean, could you send them in?  It would be much appreciated.