English translation: Our brief sum of life forbids us to embark upon a protracted hope
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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Latin term or phrase:
vitae summa brevis spem nos vetat incohare longam
English translation:
Our brief sum of life forbids us to embark upon a protracted hope
Explanation: Or 'span' of life. This is taking 'brevis' with 'summa' used substantively, 'vitae' being partitve gentive. A more literal rendering
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 hrs (2009-11-24 20:07:58 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
'Spem longam' could conceivably here refer to "the protracted hope, the hope for long-term happiness" but paucity of context leaves that question open. It would be the natural interpretation, since it's very commonluy used of something to be desired but very rarely used in the sense of 'anticipation, foreboding', as, e.g., Cicero, in Catalinam, 4.1.23: 'si meam spem vim improborum fefellerit atque superavit' or
Lucan, Pharsalia, 5.458: 'naufragii spes omnis abiit'.
I think it means that, as life is short, we cannot hope for anything to last long.
If however, you are turning all philosophical on us ;-), I'm afraid, I can't be of any help!
Our brief sum of life forbids us to embark upon a protracted hope
Explanation: Or 'span' of life. This is taking 'brevis' with 'summa' used substantively, 'vitae' being partitve gentive. A more literal rendering
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 hrs (2009-11-24 20:07:58 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
'Spem longam' could conceivably here refer to "the protracted hope, the hope for long-term happiness" but paucity of context leaves that question open. It would be the natural interpretation, since it's very commonluy used of something to be desired but very rarely used in the sense of 'anticipation, foreboding', as, e.g., Cicero, in Catalinam, 4.1.23: 'si meam spem vim improborum fefellerit atque superavit' or
Lucan, Pharsalia, 5.458: 'naufragii spes omnis abiit'.
Joseph J. Brazauskas United States Local time: 01:31 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English, Spanish PRO pts in category: 52
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
