- Source
- Polybius. Vols. 1-4. Büttner-Wobst, Theodor, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1893.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:33.20.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-12
It points out the nature of crowd behavior, stating that once the multitude conceives extreme love or hatred, they will use any pretext to accomplish their purposes.
ὅτι1 ὅταν ἅπαξ2 οἱ πολλοὶ σχῶσιν ὁρμὴν πρὸς τὸ φιλεῖν ἢ μισεῖν τινας ὑπερβαλλόντως, πᾶσα πρόφασις ἱκανὴ γίνεται πρὸς τὸ συντελεῖν3 τὰς αὑτῶν προθέσεις. —
That once the multitude conceives an impulse to love or hate certain people excessively, any pretext becomes sufficient for accomplishing their own purposes. —
- 33.20.1ὅτι
Introduces a noun clause dependent on an implied verb of saying (such as φησί in the previous chunk) or serves as a quotation marker commonly found in historical fragments.
- 33.20.1ὅταν ἅπαξ
Used with the subjunctive (here σχῶσιν, the aorist subjunctive of ἔχω) to express a temporal-general condition ('once' or 'when once'), with the adverb ἅπαξ emphasizing the decisive and initial moment of the condition.
- 33.20.1πρὸς τὸ συντελεῖν
The preposition πρὸς combined with the articular infinitive (neuter singular accusative) limits the preceding adjective ἱκανὴ, expressing purpose or the respect in which the pretext is 'sufficient' ('for accomplishing' or 'to accomplish').
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-10-09)
- 2026-10-09 Collated with the printed edition — source 1