Hello everyone I was referred to this site for a translation. They say there are many talented Latinists here.
I’m looking for the translation of this phrase.
“Happiness of others comes first”
My translation of “Happiness of others comes first”:
Beatitudo aliorum prima est.
Is “beatitudo” the best option for happiness, though? “Laetitia” seems to suggest a more transient emotional state than the maxim concerns. Also, I avoided the English idiom, “to come first,” by using esse. There may be a better expression for it–which I probably don’t know. Should one stick with the idiom, “Beatitudo aliorum imprimis venit” might be the result.
I hope to learn from the responses of those who have gotten past the 29th chapter in Wheelock’s.
David
What a terribly un-Roman sentiment. Doesn’t Horace quip “nihil est ab omni parte beatum”?
Aliorum beatitudini locus primarius est dandus.
beatitudo and its sibling, beatitas, do not seem to be very common words (L&S says Cicero coined them himself).
I’m going to say praestet felicitas ceteris.
I would read this as “happiness comes/stands before other things”.
How about:
Felicitas aliorum praestet.
beatitudo and beatitas are not very pleasing to be fair.
praestet felicitas ceteris, happiness to(of) others is more important, rather than the same words with [ii] implied meaning happiness stands before that of others which does not make much sense.