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"The sum of the parts is always greater than the whole."
Anyone capable of translating this into Latin?

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Type: Question • Score: 0 • Views: 8,962 • Replies: 17

[+3] - Francis - 03/15/2010People should know that online translators are meaningless. Your phrase is a good example of that. Try reading Dan Brown: [b]Totum maior summa partum.[/b]
[+3] - George - 03/15/2010[color=#0000FF]Summa partum semper maius quam totum[/color] is how I'd translate The sum of the parts is always greater than the whole.
[+3] - George - 03/15/2010You can use [color=#0000FF]Totum minus summa partum[/color] I would tend to put [color=#0000FF]quam[/color] in there, but you're OK without it.

View best answer, chosen by morbusmajor

@morbusmajor,

" summa of secui est usquequaque maioribus quam universus "

1 Reply

@The Chief,

People should know that online translators are meaningless.

Your phrase is a good example of that.

Try reading Dan Brown:
Totum maior summa partum.

2 Replies

@Francis,

Loath as I am to disagree with the estimable Mr. Brown,
I would say "maius" (neuter) rather than "maior"
(masculine or feminine).

1 Reply

@Francis,

Thanks - I asked for "less than," but that's ok. I guess it will be "Totum minor summa partum".

1 Reply

@morbusmajor,

morbusmajor wrote:

Thanks - I asked for "less than," but that's ok. I guess it will be "Totum minor summa partum".

No, you asked for "always more than".

1 Reply

@George,

I remember that you mustn't add an "est" in such sentences - but I've forgotten why it isn't necessary.

1 Reply

@Walter Hinteler,

Well, you can, but it is usually understood.

1 Reply

@George,

Come on now - read my question carefully one more time.

0 Replies

@morbusmajor,

morbusmajor wrote:

"The sum of the parts is always greater than the whole."
Anyone capable of translating this into Latin?

What am I missing here?

1 Reply

@George,

Sometimes the answer is so easy - thanks, George.

0 Replies

@George,

You are missing that the order of "parts" and "whole" is reversed - we're reversing the expression into expressing a reductionistic idea, not a holistic one. "The sum of the PARTS is always greater than the WHOLE," not "the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts". See?

1 Reply

@morbusmajor,

morbusmajor wrote:

You are missing that the order of "parts" and "whole" is reversed - we're
reversing the expression into expressing a reductionistic idea, not a holistic
one. "The sum of the PARTS is always greater than the WHOLE," not "the
whole is always greater than the sum of its parts". See?

OK, so what exactly do you want to translate?

1 Reply

@George,

"The sum of the PARTS is always greater than the WHOLE," or put in another way, "the whole is always lesser than the sum of its parts." Get it now?
I guess "Totum minor summa partum" would do, or do I have to put "minor" in a different case or something?

0 Replies

Summa partum semper maius quam totum
is how I'd translate
The sum of the parts is always greater than the whole.

1 Reply

@George,

Thanks, George! So I guess the variation of the Dan Brown version is bad latin (Totum minor summa partum).
I'd like to make it shorter, though. How would you translate "the whole is less than the sum of its parts"?

1 Reply

@morbusmajor,

You can use
Totum minus summa partum
I would tend to put quam in there, but you're OK without it.

0 Replies

I use minus rather than minor to agree in gender with totum.

0 Replies

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