A Psalm in Bureaucratic Translation
Posted on July 31st, 2006 by M* Ben
Who can identify the translator and passage without Googling?
“Objective consideration of contemporary phenomena compels the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity, but that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be taken into account.”
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Isn’t that a passage from Ecclesiastes?
‘Sounds like part of the hypocratic oath for casino owners.
It is indeed Ecclesiates, 9:11. The translator is not a casino
“Ecclesiastes 9:11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all. “
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that’s the way to bet.” -Damon Runyon
Since you’re all dying to know, this translation was done by George Orwell, of 1984.
As long as you’re guessing original writers and “translators”, try this one:
I haven’t checked these figures but 87 years ago, I think it was, a number of individuals organized a governmental set-up here in this country, I believe it covered certain Eastern areas, with this idea they were following up based on a sort of national independence arrangement and the program that every indiÂvidual is just as good as every other individual.
Too easy. The “87″ gives it away.
“Four score and seven years ago, our forefathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty…”
I’m not sure about the translator. It’s confusing, because the lack of assurance is awfully bland. It sounds like a stand-up comic riffing on Gettysburg. PJ O’Rourke?