Quote:
Originally Posted by trooph
hope for the best and prepare for the worst
最善の状態が訪れるように祈り最悪の事態に備えて覚悟 しておく
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
《諺》楽観して最悪に備えよ
What is the difference between those 2?^
This motto suppose to be understand in a good way, I'm not a pessimist.
I am not a Japanese speaking person, English isnt my primary language too so You have to forgive me my poor language  ...im just looking for proper translation of my motto...
Thanks in advance for any help given here |
I like the second one better than the first because it sounds more like you're telling youself it as a command (like you're training for a boxing match, and you're running 10 miles repeating to yourself "hope for the best, train for the worst," while the first is just a plain old statement that "I hope for the best, but prepare for the worst," but go with masaegu's translation instead. He's a native Japanese speaker and he's right here talking to you.
I think masaegu's sounds a bit more literary than the others because of the つつ, while at the same time like it still sounds like an actual motto. It means, literally, "while assuming the worst situation, hope for the best situation."
I dunno, maybe a tossup between masaegu's and the shorter of the two you asked about. They both sound more motto-ish. The shorter one you posted sounds a bit more "quick" but also literally says "be optimistic, and prepare for the worst." Masaegu's is more literal.