Conlang, Conculture, and Translated Aphorisms


There is only one success--to be able to spend your life in your own way.   -- Christopher Morley

Veldan: At smias uicámen smiém--apnasain vain stéan vaímena catâ ástéessu etressu.


The believer is happy, the doubter is wise.   -- Greek Proverb

Veldan:At i nomátés sampés, ach i onnomátés ólacés.

Lokwandaze:Credikama seligakanonar, asangadubirosedma sóféngonar.


Nÿmota Eledei ÿn sectasswi, nÿmocha Atánei ÿn efsasswi.   -- Old Veldan proverb

Elves count by sixes, Men count by sevens. In other words, expect the Elves to be a little less generous, efficient, open, etc., with Men than with other Elves.

Lokwandaze: HektehestriQuendekama haptahestriAndazengososed.


The more I learn of people, the more I like my cats/dogs.

Veldan: Augaf sa discem diên atánusswi, uxam augaf sa wolam méenas felyenas/cÿnenas.


A word is an awesome thing.   -- someone on the Conlang mailing list

Veldan: At lócuimen fóbémmathas ímen.


One swallow does not make a summer.   -- old saying, possibly Proto-IE

Veldan: Ún aletsot lairen sénes cÿspeles.

Anglysc:Án swealwe sumor ná maciath.


Veldan aphorism: When swords are outlawed, only outlaws will have swords.   -- Evanda Tarienna

Cascaû essonÿta et tarwómenû maicar, sísechata ottarwómendriei maicamas gandlyeswim.


Aganÿta sálui anctui ÿn týsi cerrusur.   -- Veldan aphorism

All beginnings are hand-made.


Eisdícet sperómen ganimena: at agaimen sálimen.   -- Veldan aphorism

Hope means nothing: action is everything.


Spero ÿn sénû ungilû--aga ÿn novûi.   -- Evanda Tarienna

Hope with one finger--act with nine.

Lokwandaze: Daktaheisutisthelwé--daktanóweutisagnae.

Anglysc: Hápia with áne fingre--dó with nignum.


Love is blind.

Veldan: Sómbrosanét amámen. (Love blinds itself.)

Anglysc: Luvu ist blindu.


Time awaits no-one.

Veldan: Meinet ómen obómnén.


The best student exceeds the best teacher.

Veldan: Cédzonét i mathés uxa sálésswi discétés i mathás uxa sálásswi texátán. [Lit.: Causes himself to exceed....]


Dais at lambrámen faras, at ámen gan ondacû.   -- Evanda Tarienna

If pride is wrong, existence is pointless.


Obeiscambat ios gaéisi aimen.

The essence of the world [of people] never changes. (Compare: The more things change, the more they stay the same.)


Clanér ce sorar.   -- Evanda Tarienna (among others)

Hide and watch.


Núa stésen ecren matham uxa stén uxam núanéste.   -- Evanda Tarienna

Know your enemy even better than you know yourself.


The best way to predict the future is to invent it.   -- Alan Kay

Veldan: At mathas wias uxa sallasswi praidícein seddía asoin tánas.

or: At mathas wias uxa sallasswi sa praidíceima seddía san asoma tánas.


Verbing weirds language.   -- Calvin and Hobbes

Veldan: Pecadzat agalócuimendzent lingwÿn.


Fiat lingua.   -- conlanger aphorism

Veldan: Asût lingwas.

Taroan [free translation]: Tua bahonga 'ta roa.


I have never seen a situation so dismal that a policeman couldn't make it worse.   -- Brendan Behan

Veldan [somewhat free translation]: Ú sesweidem cá sa rerat fóbéammallùs sa nerreragêt Regasi Tírôtés mallùn uxa elyùsswi.


Per oimenôs cadyssu tóloimenû ífarcleste Tarcandòs mérym meinêmena?   -- Evanda Tarienna

How long [through of-time what length] will you abuse, O Tarcandos, our patience? [addressing the last of the Veldan kings by his family name, thus rather less than worshipfully; the somewhat circumlocutious verbiage before the verb adds sarcasm to the question]


At eikya iÿs lox sn: ú vótév eikín abam.   -- Bar Islander Aphorism

Home is the place such that one would not choose to live elsewhere.


The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited.   -- Plutarch.

Ún at i saipas angyos sa lánthaf, fân at ligna sa lignawof.


Revenge is a dish best served cold.   -- Klingon (tlhIngan) proverb

At Eirye ediÿs sa sif týn freicÿ`n matham uxa sálesswi.   -- Evanda Tarrienna didn't say it but probably would have wished she had


Sísoidasta i alemmena ce bíbimptÿdzat i alemmen túnas.   -- Evanda Tarienna

Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you flee.


Mán ausoidain, má toncauroin.   -- Evanda Tarienna's motto

Not to assume nor to accept.


Honi soit qui mal y pense.   -- Motto of the Order of the Garter

Ait maldus téio sa sílyit maldun.   -- closest Veldan equivalent, attributed to Evanda Tarienna in reference to an alleged affair with a Turnar patrician

Ait maldus téivos sa lelesotor maldun méio.   -- Evanda Tarienna, more likely what she really said


Return to my Conlangs index. Last updated and (c) Cian Ross 3 July 2007.