Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
Os chefes são Líderes
English translation:
commanders lead by example not authority
Added to glossary by
Douglas Bissell
Jul 4, 2021 10:03
2 yrs ago
21 viewers *
Portuguese term
Portugal
Business Language Solutions Pt>Eng
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
Os chefes são Líderes
Portuguese to English
Bus/Financial
Safety
“Os chefes são Líderes mais através do exemplo do que do poder.”
TÁCITO
I am looking for the English quotation, not just a translation of the Portuguese. I've been looking all morning but with no luck. Out of 18 quotations, I have found 15 so far
TÁCITO
I am looking for the English quotation, not just a translation of the Portuguese. I've been looking all morning but with no luck. Out of 18 quotations, I have found 15 so far
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +3 | commanders lead by example not authority |
Mario Freitas
|
| 5 -1 | The commanders rely on example rather than on the authority of their rank. |
Oliver Simões
|
Proposed translations
+3
3 hrs
Mario Freitas
Brazil
Brazil
Native in Portuguese
&
English
Works in field
Brazil
32 years engineering/law/contracts
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian) 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
18
Selected
commanders lead by example not authority
Since there is already a widely-used translation, that's what I'd use, i.e. considering the entire phrase, not only the first chunk.
https://www.google.com.br/search?q="commanders lead by examp...
https://www.google.com.br/search?q="commanders lead by examp...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks"
-1
11 hrs
Oliver Simões
United States
United States
Native in Portuguese
United States
BA in Transl., MA in ESL, 15 yrs of exp.
Native in: Portuguese
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Spanish to Portuguese, and 2 more.
The commanders rely on example rather than on the authority of their rank.
The full quote:
"The commanders rely on example rather than on the authority of their rank."
Excerpt from "Germania" by Cornelius Tacitus, translated by H. Mattingly, revised by S.A. Handford.
Reference URL: https://books.google.com/books?id=-TCOs_SFAy0C&pg=PA107&lpg=...
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Note added at 11 hrs (2021-07-04 21:52:03 GMT)
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An afterthought:
The choice of "rely on" (rather than "lead") is quite interesting. In my opinion, it de-emphasis the authority figure and focuses instead on the importance of setting the example for others to follow. It sounds like the short version going around ("to lead by example") is a distortion of Tacitus' words. Assuming that the transltors know Latin, he said "rely on example", not "lead by example"!
"The commanders rely on example rather than on the authority of their rank."
Excerpt from "Germania" by Cornelius Tacitus, translated by H. Mattingly, revised by S.A. Handford.
Reference URL: https://books.google.com/books?id=-TCOs_SFAy0C&pg=PA107&lpg=...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2021-07-04 21:52:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
An afterthought:
The choice of "rely on" (rather than "lead") is quite interesting. In my opinion, it de-emphasis the authority figure and focuses instead on the importance of setting the example for others to follow. It sounds like the short version going around ("to lead by example") is a distortion of Tacitus' words. Assuming that the transltors know Latin, he said "rely on example", not "lead by example"!
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
ulissescarvalho
: Infelizmente a tradução distorceu bastante o sentido original
1 day 1 hr
|
Reference comments
29 mins
Ana Vozone
Native in Portuguese
Works in field
Will do!
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: European/Portugal)
Works in: English to Portuguese, French to Portuguese, German to Portuguese, and 1 more.
Reference:
Talvez ajude
Hi, Douglas!
I found this, although it is not directly by Tacitus:
https://www.google.com/search?q="by example, not authority" ...
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Note added at 1 hr (2021-07-04 11:07:14 GMT)
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Do there have to be "official translations" of classic thinkers' quotes? Can't one make their own version?
I found this, although it is not directly by Tacitus:
https://www.google.com/search?q="by example, not authority" ...
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Note added at 1 hr (2021-07-04 11:07:14 GMT)
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Do there have to be "official translations" of classic thinkers' quotes? Can't one make their own version?
Note from asker:
| Thanks Ana, the problem is there 'inspirational quotes' are in a ppt presentation with the name of who said them. |
2 hrs
Reference:
"A leader leads by example, not by force." --Sun Tzu - https://www.inc.com/ekaterina-walter/22-profound-quotes-to-h...
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