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Search results for alpha,3832 in Adler number:
Headword:
*)aretw=
Adler number: alpha,3832
Translated headword: I am excellent, I pursue excellence
Vetting Status: high
Translation: [Meaning] I cultivate excellence.
Procopius [writes]: "but both [sides], some courting death, others pursuing excellence, went in close with great [spirit]."[1]
*)aretw=: to\ a)reth=s e)pimelou=mai. *proko/pios: a)mfo/teroi de\, oi( me\n qanatw=ntes, oi( de\ a)retw=ntes, e)pi\ tou\s pe/las pollw=| i(/ento.
Notes:
cf. generally
alpha 3830,
alpha 3831. LSJ entry at web address 1.
[1]
Procopius,
History of the Wars of Justinian 8.35.21 (web address 2), on the Battle of Mons Lactarius (late 552 CE); cf. Kaldellis (542) and
kappa 934. The missing noun is
qumw=| "spirit", a quality which can be desirable (courage) or undesirable (foolhardiness). The implication of the contrast is noteworthy: in battle, excellence (arete) would be marred by an aim to die at all costs.
Procopius's characterization here of the combatants is reminiscent of
Aristotle's conception of the virtue of courage as a mean between vicious extremes of cowardice and rashness; cf.
Aristotle,
Nicomachaean Ethics II.vii (ll07b1)(web address 3).
A. Kaldellis, ed. and H.B. Dewing, trans., Prokopios: The Wars of Justinian, (Indianapolis 2014)
Associated internet addresses:
Web address 1,
Web address 2,
Web address 3
Keywords: definition; ethics; historiography; history; military affairs; philosophy
Translated by: Jennifer Benedict on 12 July 2001@12:25:42.
Vetted by:Catharine Roth (modified translation, added link and keyword) on 12 July 2001@12:31:44.
David Whitehead (added keyword; cosmetics) on 13 July 2001@03:27:00.
David Whitehead (added keyword) on 24 August 2002@09:23:18.
David Whitehead (another keyword) on 13 October 2005@08:11:57.
David Whitehead (expanded notes; tweaking) on 11 April 2012@07:38:27.
Catharine Roth (supplemented note) on 11 November 2013@01:31:25.
Ronald Allen (expanded n.1, added bibliography, added cross-reference, added keyword, added link) on 31 December 2023@12:15:43.
Catharine Roth (tweaked translation and note, after discussion with Ron Allen) on 4 January 2024@01:05:08.
Ronald Allen (further expanded n.1, added keyword, added link) on 5 January 2024@12:00:54.
No. of records found: 1
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