The spirit is willing...

The spirit is willing...

There is a well-known urban legend that a translation program once rendered "Out of sight, out of mind" as the equivalent of "Invisible idiot", and "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" as "The vodka is tempting, but the meat's a bit suspect". Whether or not this is true (and I think not), the results using Altavista's Babelfish program were almost as striking...

French

Out of the sight, of the spirit. The spirit is laid out, but the flesh is weak.

German

From sight from understanding out. The spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Italian

From sight, the mind. The spirit is arranged, but the meat is weak person.

Spanish

Outside Vista, the mind. The alcohol is arranged, but the meat is weak.

Portuguese

Except of the sight, it are of the mind. The spirit is made use, but the meat is weak.

Chinese

Outside sight, outside brains. This kind of spirit is wants, but the flesh and blood is weak.

Japanese

From vision from heart. Mind is rejoicing, but, the meat is weak.

Korean

Oblivion of mind, at outside. The spirit puts out the flag and does, the flesh omits but.

Dutch

From face, opinion. The spirit is willing, but flesh is weak.

Greek

From the view, from the brain. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is impossible.

Russian

From the sighting, from the reason. Spirit is willingly ready, but flesh is weak.


Jonathan Partington, August 2002. Further languages added, May 2004. 1

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