Learn Hardcore Latin: Itaque magnum interest utrum pueri gloriam solam quaerant an veram dignitatem cum industria et parcimonia. - And so it matters greatly whether children seek glory alone or true dignity with diligence and thrift.

Word

Itaque magnum interest utrum pueri gloriam solam quaerant an veram dignitatem cum industria et parcimonia.

Meaning

And so it matters greatly whether children seek glory alone or true dignity with diligence and thrift.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Latin

Lesson

Lesson 49

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Questions & Answers about Itaque magnum interest utrum pueri gloriam solam quaerant an veram dignitatem cum industria et parcimonia.

What does itaque mean here?

Itaque means and so, therefore, or accordingly. It connects this sentence to the previous thought and shows that this statement is a conclusion or result.

What does magnum interest mean? Why is it not just interest?

Interest is an impersonal verb here: it means it matters or it makes a great difference.

The word magnum adds strength: it matters greatly or it is very important.

Grammatically, magnum is a neuter accusative singular used adverbially with interest. This is a regular Latin idiom. So:

interest = it matters
magnum interest = it matters greatly

Why is interest singular when pueri is plural?

Because interest is impersonal. The real idea is it matters, not the boys matter.

The plural noun pueri is the subject of quaerant, not of interest.

So the structure is:

it matters greatly
whether the boys seek...