Découvrir qu’il y a en soi plus que soi

English translation: See below...multiple solutions

04:43 Sep 25, 2020
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Mystical poetry
French term or phrase: Découvrir qu’il y a en soi plus que soi
Extait d'un livre de Pierre Claverie :

« Et c’est là un des rares cadeaux du désert, découvrir qu’on n’est jamais moins seul que lorsqu’on est seul, qu’au-delà du moi il y a un pur « Je suis ». Là où s’arrêtent les forces naît une autre énergie ; là ou cède la compréhension naît une autre conscience. Découvrir qu’il y a en soi plus que soi… »
Hugues Roumier
France
Local time: 07:29
English translation:See below...multiple solutions
Explanation:
Discover the inner strength you didn’t realize was there
Discover that you are more than the sum of your parts
Discover that you are stronger than you imagine
Discover you are more than the person you thought you were
Selected response from:

Timothy Rake
United States
Local time: 23:29
Grading comment
Thanks for "Discover that you are more than the sum of your parts"!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5Beyond (or beneath) the self lies something greater
Sophie Cherel
3 +5See below...multiple solutions
Timothy Rake
4 +1The moment you look within and discover a self beyond the self.
Philippa Smith
4Discovering that there is something bigger than yourself within yourself
Ben Gaia
3To uncover the self within the self.
Taylor Keenan


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
See below...multiple solutions


Explanation:
Discover the inner strength you didn’t realize was there
Discover that you are more than the sum of your parts
Discover that you are stronger than you imagine
Discover you are more than the person you thought you were

Timothy Rake
United States
Local time: 23:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks for "Discover that you are more than the sum of your parts"!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Timothy. Given that it's still a theological matter, the only solution that would be acceptable is: "that you are more than the sum of your parts", as it's the only one which conveys the exact idea of the ST. Thanks a lot!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
13 mins
  -> Merci Phil

agree  EirTranslations
4 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  Carol Gullidge: "more than the sum of your parts" is exactly what I had in mind!
4 hrs
  -> Merci Carol

agree  Yolanda Broad: Nice!
11 hrs
  -> Merci Yolanda

agree  SafeTex: I too like the "more than the sum of your parts" solution
12 hrs
  -> Thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Discovering that there is something bigger than yourself within yourself


Explanation:
A bit literal for a poem though.

Ben Gaia
New Zealand
Local time: 19:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
The moment you look within and discover a self beyond the self.


Explanation:
I hesitated about using two "self"s, but I think it works in this specific context - see the couple of examples I've linked.


    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/24740500.2017.1411149?journalCode=rapr20
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8959553-understanding-yourself
Philippa Smith
Local time: 07:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 48

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof
6 hrs
  -> Thanks Verginia!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
Beyond (or beneath) the self lies something greater


Explanation:
This option removes the idea of ego altogether, which I think is what the whole idea is.

The answers by Timothy are more about how great "you" are, not so much about consciousness free of ego.

Sophie Cherel
Spain
Local time: 06:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cyril Tollari
3 mins
  -> Merci Cyril

agree  Verginia Ophof
3 hrs
  -> Thank you Verginia

agree  Carol Gullidge
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Carol

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
1 day 1 hr
  -> thanks Yvonne

agree  Eliza Hall
2 days 1 hr
  -> thank you Eliza
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
To uncover the self within the self.


Explanation:
You could argue against the infinitive for sure. I just think it would work best given my interpretation of the narrative flow which precedes it. Although I certainly agree and truly like the creative solutions provided by Mr. Rake, I thought that it couldn't hurt to offer a simpler, more direct approach as a secondary option. It echoes the repetition and has a short finality or conclusive tone for which the provided context seems to call. Thoughts? Corrections anyone? In fact, this is my first response !
Cheers
TjK

Taylor Keenan
United States
Local time: 02:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search