A quick question.

Here you can discuss all things Latin. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Latin, and more.
Post Reply
Grav
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2004 3:44 pm

A quick question.

Post by Grav »

Hello. I have a problem, and i was hoping somebody here could help me.
"Mens sana in corpore sano" as you all know, is translated as "a sound mind in a sound body". Now i would like to change it to a sick mind in a sick body. How would that look? I know that "morbus" is sickness but can i just exchange "sana" for "morbus"? Sorry about this question, as it may seem silly to you, but i have nowhere else to turn to. Thanks...

/A.

User avatar
benissimus
Global Moderator
Posts: 2733
Joined: Mon May 12, 2003 4:32 am
Location: Berkeley, California
Contact:

Post by benissimus »

You can use morbus instead of sana if you put it as "mens morba in corpore morbo". Morbus is the concept of sick as in "diseased". You might consider using the adjective aeger instead, since it also means sick, but in the sense of "infirm" or "weak", and indeed one of its definitions in the dictionary is "unsound".

So, with these words you can have either one of these:
"Mens morba in corpore morbo."
"Mens aegra in corpore aegro."

Also, perhaps using insanus, the opposite of sanus:
"Mens insana in corpore insano."
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

Grav
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2004 3:44 pm

Post by Grav »

Thank you very VERY much! You just made my day!

Post Reply