Fortuna adversa amicis fidendum non est.

Latin Learning Latin
1

In Orberg LLPSI he has: Fortuna adversa amicis fidendum non est.

I can’t figure out the syntax and grammar - or meaning. Fidendum is gerundive right?
So it’s something like : adverse fortune has no friends??

2

Fortunâ adversâ = in [times of]/with adverse fortune
fidendum non est = [impersonally/impersonaliter] there should not be placed trust in/one should not trust in… [this verb takes a dative and the gerundive can keep this case for its object // hoc verbum dativo casui servit quo in casu gerundivum objectum tenere potest].

3

Adrianus

Gratias tibi ago.

Paul

4

Shouldn’t that be fidenda, to agree with fortuna?

5

Fortuna is ablative, not the subject. The subject is impersonal.

6

Adrianus, isn’t an alternative explanation that ‘fidendum’ doesn’t take dative but that ‘amicis’ is dative as it is an agent (is this the same thing?). So that it means: in times of adverse fortune friends are not trustworthy. ‘amicis’ - dative - agent.?

Orberg explains this in notes to the previous chapter: 'With the gerundive, which is a passive form, the dative (not ab + abl) is used to denote the agent, i.e. the person by whom the action is to be performed: Quidquid dominus imperavit servo faciendum est.

Or is this (agent) only referring to cases where someone asks or orders someone else to do something…?

7

The verb “fideo” DOES take the dative but, COINCIDENTALLY, that’s the way gerundives work impersonally.
“Fido” verbum quidem dativo casui servit quod, casu, gerundivum impersonaliter facit.
“There/it should be [done] to a thing” = “A thing should be [done]”
Here the [indirect] object is the agent.
Hîc objectum [indirectum] est quod agit.

8

Adrianus,

Quando dixisti: 'fidendum non est = [impersonally/impersonaliter] ’ Nonne ita neutrum ‘fidendum’ explicatur.

Paulus

9

It’s neuter because it’s impersonal, or vice versa, if you prefer.
Neutrius generis quod impersonale; vel vice versâ, si velis.