February 21, 1944
Ich glaube, wir müssen das Große und Eigene wirklich unternehmen und doch zugleich das Selbstverständlich- und Allgemein-Notwendige tun, wir müssen dem »Schicksal« — ich finde das »Neutrum« dieses Begriffes wichtig — ebenso entschlossen entgegentreten wie uns ihm zu gegebener Zeit unterwerfen.
der Begriff idea, notion, concept
glauben believe
entgegentreten oppose, take action against
müssen must
tun do
unternehmen take action, undertake, venture
unterwerfen submit to
allgemein general(ly), universal(ly)
doch (emphasis or contrast) transl und doch here as “and yet”
eigen one’s own, peculiar, particular
entschlossen determined
gegeben given, factual, real
zu gegebener Zeit “in due course; when appropriate”
neutrum neuter gender (gramm)
selbstverständlich natural, naturally
wichtig important
wirklich really
zugleich at the same time
Note on adjectives: “das” in front of Grose, Eigene, Notwendige, and Neutrum converts the adjectives to substantives or nouns—and they are therefore capitalized.
Also, note that often adjectives are used as adverbs: translate das Selbstverständlich- und Allgemein-Notwendige as “what is naturally and universally necessary.”
Mark,
Welcome to the blogosphere, I love the site! I just started take a theological German course this semester and am trying to think of some ways to incorporate it into my blog (e.g. a theological german word of the day or week, etc.). Keep up the good work. Visit my site at: http://www.michaelhalcomb.blogspot.com
My attempt at translation resulted in the following text (which I think is somewhat infelicitous at times)
“I think that we must really undertake the big and particular issues, and yet, at the same time, do what is naturally and universally necessary; we must oppose fate (the neuter of these concepts seems to me important), even while determined, just as we submit to it when this is appropriate.”
Viasamar,
Your translation is pretty good. I think this is not an easy passage.
dieses Begriffes is gen. sg. “of this concept”
I think the contrast between “das Große und Eigene” vs. “das Selbstverständlich- und Allgemein-Notwendige” is the contrast between the unique and great challenges that face an individual vs. the daily duties of life that everyone has to accept.
ebenso . . . wie = the same . . . as (or even so . . . as; just as . . . as)
My attempt at the last part:
“We must confront Fate [when the occasion requires it] just as resolutely as we submit to it at the appropriate time.”