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La storia riscuote sempre i suoi debiti

English translation: history always calls in its debts

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:La storia riscuote sempre i suoi debiti
English translation:history always calls in its debts
Entered by: Fiona Grace Peterson

10:08 May 18, 2016
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - History / Social commentary
Italian term or phrase: La storia riscuote sempre i suoi debiti
From the preface of a novel, where the author is talking about various problems affecting the world - terrorism, environmental disasters - and how we can go about solving them. I understand the meaning here - the past always catches up with us, sooner or later, mistakes will always have to be paid for, later down the line, but I was just wondering if there was a neater way of putting the part in asterisks.

Thanks in advance for any input.

"***La storia riscuote sempre i suoi debiti***. E quelli che abbiamo accumulato negli ultimi anni sono ahimè ormai pesanti come macigni."
Fiona Grace Peterson
Italy
Local time: 07:33
history always calls in its debts
Explanation:
What about keeping it literal
Nature is a shrewd banker and always calls in its debts. The concept of negative energy touches on many areas of physics: gravitation, quantum theory, ...
Selected response from:

Isabelle Johnson
Italy
Local time: 07:33
Grading comment
It's always hard to choose, and I wish I could award points to all. This was the solution that stylistically best fitted my text. THANK YOU to ALL!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1history always calls in its debts
Isabelle Johnson
4In history mistakes are always paid for
Lisa Jane
4the past/history always takes its toll
Shabelula
2the past claims its due
Wendy Streitparth


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
the past claims its due


Explanation:
Though actually I like your "past catches us with us" too.

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 07:33
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
In history mistakes are always paid for


Explanation:
sooner or later!

Along the lines of your own thoughts, this is how I would phrase it-and if we are talking about politics, war, ecology and the like it should fit. Similar concept to when Santayana said those who ignore history are doomed to repeat its mistakes!

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 07:33
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 16
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the past/history always takes its toll


Explanation:
claims its toll, etc.

Shabelula
Italy
Local time: 07:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: Italian
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
history always calls in its debts


Explanation:
What about keeping it literal
Nature is a shrewd banker and always calls in its debts. The concept of negative energy touches on many areas of physics: gravitation, quantum theory, ...

Isabelle Johnson
Italy
Local time: 07:33
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 80
Grading comment
It's always hard to choose, and I wish I could award points to all. This was the solution that stylistically best fitted my text. THANK YOU to ALL!!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: If there's an exact equivalent in English, you may as well use it.
1 hr
  -> Thanks Phil.
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