its skills are worth learning

20:06 Feb 17, 2009 

What a great discussion! While I don't see the context in the Query to support Natalie's interpretation of 'personal freedom' vs 'citizenship in a free country', I agree with your translation if that were the connotation in question.
On the other hand, I like very much the use of 'arts' in the context, Eugenio, and 'tecnicas' is actually very effective on another level. I also like Bcsantos' change from noun-to-verb phrase 'apreder a implementarlo'. Remy's 'enriquecerse al aprender sus principios/valores is up the right lane, but lacks the expression of the responsibility to 'take action' once the understanding of the principles are mastered. ... I'm still groping for an expression. We may have to coin one! Thank you all for participating; this is so enlightening to me, as a second-language Spanish speaker and striving translator.

18:26 Feb 17, 2009 

I think it's talking more about personal freedom than the freedom as a citizen belonging to a country, which is more restrictive. In my personal opinion, the words provided by Remy Arce, principios or valores applies perfectly to this scheme.

18:17 Feb 17, 2009 

Despues de ver y meditar todas vuestras mágnificas entradas y razonamientos, de repente se me ocurrió, basándome en todo lo dicho la palabra "artes" : "...y que merece la pena aprender sus artes". Por cierto, a lo mejor hay que repetir el "si", "whether" del principio, esto es: "...y si merece la pena aprender sus artes"

15:24 Feb 17, 2009 

Hola Richard, creo que la propuesta de Remy está en línea con lo que explicas.

12:54 Feb 17, 2009 

I think that Miguel's 'pautas' starts us down the right path on this Query, but doesn't reach the 'skills' connotation of 'Doing what the guidelines explain' but only that there are guidelines. We could go forward toward a term for skills along this line, however.

12:51 Feb 17, 2009 

I don't think that we are 'there' yet with this Query term that must analyze the 'skills' required of a citizen in order to support, promote and protect his freedom. The 'skills', as expressed in the source text, must include voting, jury duty, lawsuits against officials who break the law & lobbying/demonstrating against unjust laws that may be passed by legislators, etc. Also, hard work for reasonable pay and honesty in one's dealings ... ehhh, etcetera! I think this wants a more-technical and more-descriptive noun in Spanish (and in English) than what has been suggested so far. 'Destrezas' occurs to me but seems to fall short, still, and besides it refers more to manual than to personal-character skills. Much of the 'skill' involved in the Query term involves personal courage. What do you think??