This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Mar 13, 2013 13:37
11 yrs ago
French term

“le beau c’est le laid”

French to English Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting Aesthetics
This is Victor Hugo. I'm looking for a nice English translation.
Proposed translations (English)
4 what is beautiful is ugly

Discussion

David Vaughn (asker) Mar 13, 2013:
@writeaway Yes, I understand. For me, no answer in the "answers" meant I found the answer "elsewhere". But I won't defend that logic. Even if it does imply I found an answer some place, and not just "other".
writeaway Mar 13, 2013:
Ok- Sorry, I was misled by the reason for closing Says answer found elsewhere. Afaik, there is also the wonderful option of "other" for closing a question.
David Vaughn (asker) Mar 13, 2013:
"why I needed it translated" Because translation is what I do and the only purpose of this entire site. If you question the value of translation as an activity, you will confuse me to no end.
Catharine Cellier-Smart Mar 13, 2013:
@Phil He wasn't being rude. Just facetious. ;-)
David Vaughn (asker) Mar 13, 2013:
@Writeaway There were no suggested "answers", so the only way I could close the questions was tick a box. I can't give points if there are no responses given as answers, can I?
writeaway Mar 13, 2013:
What answer was found elsewhere? Was there a different solution than the one(s) offered here?
philgoddard Mar 13, 2013:
There's no need to be rude. You posted an 11-word question with no context or explanation of why you (a) needed it translated and (b) didn't understand it. And yes, the context may be difficult to find, but of course it would have been useful.
David Vaughn (asker) Mar 13, 2013:
Thanks Thanks for your help. Especially Catherine for the apparent usual formulation of the quote, and to Emma for the translation. And special thanks to Phil for demonstrating that he will ask for more context even when none is useful. ;-))
writeaway Mar 13, 2013:
With the entire context in full view... what are you own suggested nice English translations?
Catharine Cellier-Smart Mar 13, 2013:
" Le laid c'est le beau." I believe "Le laid c'est le beau" is actually the correct quote, and it's wrongly attributed to Victor Hugo.
Try "Foul is Fair"
philgoddard Mar 13, 2013:
"This is Victor Hugo" That narrows it down a bit! Could we have the context please?

Proposed translations

2 days 4 hrs

what is beautiful is ugly

The ultimate in egalitarian aesthetics.
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

12 mins
Reference:

fwiw

L’inscription qui apparaît sur la bannière – « Le laid c’est le beau » – parodie la préface de Cromwell : « Le laid y [la création] existe à côté du beau, le difforme près du gracieux, le grotesque au revers du sublime, le mal avec le bien, l’ombre avec la lumière. »
Le crâne, le poison et le poignard renvoient, une nouvelle fois, au drame romantique.
http://www.cndp.fr/presence-litterature/dossiers-auteurs/hug...[pointer]=1

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2013-03-13 13:51:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.etudes-litteraires.com/forum/topic36477-le-beau-c...
Peer comments on this reference comment:

agree philgoddard
10 mins
Something went wrong...
12 mins
Reference:

Le laid, c'est le beau

Ugly is beautiful :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2013-03-13 13:54:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://books.google.fr/books?id=ObqVXJgMhYgC&pg=PA289&lpg=PA...
Peer comments on this reference comment:

agree writeaway : well, yes if the literal translation is all that was actually needed and if the quote asked was actually incorrectly reversed. But we'll never know......
31 mins
No, so let's not care :-)
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search