Is it true that the expression “about the dead or good, or nothing” completely sounds like “about the dead or good, or nothing but the truth”?

A version is widespread in blogs and in the media, according to which the ancient expression “about the dead or good, or nothing” is a later reduction from a complete quote: “about the dead or good, or nothing but the truth.” We decided to check if this is so.

The version of the existing continuation of the ancient phrase appears every time a famous person dies. For example, the deputy of the State Duma Mikhail Delyagin just so entitled the post in Livejournal About Mikhail Gorbachev: "About the dead either good or nothing but the truth." In 2017, the official representative of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova I wrotethat initially the expression sounded that way. Text about the "complete version" of the saying at the "Zen" Sicked 372,000 views. Also, a quote in the form of “nothing but truth” is often found in thematic collections: on sites "Year of literature" And "Culturology", V "Komsomolskaya Pravda", In public in"VKontakte»And on the site Citaty.net.

In all cases, the quote is attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Hilon (VI century BC), one of the "seven sages" of the Posocratic era. In turn, the main source of Hylon’s sayings is Diogenes Laerte (II - III century), the author of the essay “On Life, teachings and sayings of famous philosophers”. One of the chapters of his book is dedicated to Hilon. Among the wise sayings of the philosopher Diogenes Laerte also leads the following: "The dead are not blaspheming." So, in any case, the statement of Hilon Mikhail Gasparov in Academic publication Diogenes of Laerte.

But in order to understand whether part of the phrase in the translation disappeared, we turn to the Greek and Latin text of the book of Diogenes of Laer. In the edition of 1593 Given Greek original with parallel translation.

The phrase “Tὸν τεθνηκóτα μὴ κακολογεῖν” was translated by Isaac Casobon to Latin as “Mortuo Non Maledicendum”.

In both cases, we can conclude that the Russian translation is fully consistent with the original - the phrase can be translated as “do not slander about the dead”, “do not talk badly about the dead,” but the meaning of this will not change in any case. Moreover, almost the same statement Found And in Plutarch in “Comparative Biographies”, in the chapter dedicated to Solon, another of the seven sages of antiquity: “A law that prohibits the deceased is also praised by Solons. Indeed, piety demands to consider the deceased sacred, justice - not to touch those who are no longer there, civil moderation - not to be enlightened forever. " This is another confirmation that in the original expression no important words were lost.

Over time, the phrase began to meet in several versions, the most popular of which are “De Mortuis Nihil Nisi Bonum” (“About the dead, except the good” and “De Mortuis Aut Bene, aut nihil” (“About the dead or good or nothing”. In Russian literature of the XIX century, you can find both options. Expression is in the novel of Ivan Lazhechnikova “Last Novik” (1833), in the memoirs of Faddeus Bulgarin (1846–1849), in the story of Athanasius Fet “Uncle and cousin” (1855).

There is also a variant of a winged phrase with the addition of "nothing but the truth." But each time it is presented as a reasoning on the topic of ancient aphorism. So, literature researcher Ilya Simanovsky, Studying This issue quotes from published in 1874 Notes Prince Odoevsky, who offered to change the expression: “They repeat us so often, and we ourselves repeat:“ De Moreis out, aut nihil ”, what is conscientious to ask: does it make sense in this phrase? “None of us, it seems, did not think that if this phrase were fair, then the whole story would have consisted of panegyrics.” And then Odoevsky indicates that it would be reasonable to say “de Moretius Seu Veritas, Seu Nihil” - “About the dead or the truth, or nothing.” Here it is worth paying attention to the fact that Odoevsky does not question the authenticity of the original phrase.

This philosophical polemic is, for example, in the play of Chekhov "Non -spell"(1878). The landowner Glagoliev breaks off the indictment of the village teacher Platonov: “De Mortuis Aut Bene, Aut Nihil, Mikhail Vasilievich!” He replies: “No ... this is the Latin heresy. In my opinion: De Omnibus Aut Nihil, Aut Veritas ("About everything or nothing, or true."-approx. Ed.). " And in the story of Alexei Apukhtin “Between Life and Death” (1892), one of the heroes tries to recall the phrase: “De Mortis, de Mortibus ...” To which the interlocutor replies: “Do you want to say:“ De moreis aut bene, aut nihil ”? But this proverb is ridiculous, I will correct it somewhat; I say: de Moreis aut Bene, aut Male ("About the dead or good or bad." - approx. Ed.) ".

In the twentieth century, the phrase is often found in journalism. One of the leaders of the Socialist Revolutionary Party Viktor Chernov for memories The epigraph “De Mortuis Nihil, Nisi Verum” chose about George Gapone - “Nothing but the truth about the dead.” Obviously, here Chernov also polemizes with the Latin expression - he exposes Gapon and explains why he was killed. In 1910 in article Lenin was indignant about the death of the former chairman of the State Duma, Sergei Muromtsev: “The Pharisees of the bourgeoisie love the dictum: De Mortuis Aut Bene Aut Nihil (about the dead or to talk good). The proletariat needs the truth about living politicians and about the dead. "

All these examples show that “nothing but truth” is an option proposed by various authors to correct ancient expression. At the same time, none of them doubt that ancient aphorism clearly did not approve of the censure of the dead.

Until the 2000s "National Corps of the Russian Language"Does not fix forms with the addition of" nothing but the truth "as a true version of the saying. This allows us to conclude that confusion (or intentional distortion) has already occurred in our time. Thus, we can say with confidence that the quote was not reduced. On the contrary, “nothing but truth” is a later addition.

The image on the cover: Paul Delarosh, "Cromwell at the grave of Charles I." Wikimedia Commons

Not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

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2. Is it true that Voltaire is the author of the phrase “I do not share your beliefs, but is ready to die for your right to express them”?