How many people, so many opinions: who said, where did the expression come from and the history of the statement

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Since ancient times, people say or do something based on the opinions of others. They care about public opinion, this is especially noticeable in our time. With the development of technology and the advent of social networks, when there are more opportunities to follow the lives of others, each individual tries to conform to some set standards, thinking that he will receive condemnation from the public if he stands out. But as we know, you can't please everyone. And this phenomenon is very competently and accurately described by the quote: "How many people, so many opinions." Whose is she, do you know?

Famous phrase

The author of the phrase "How many people, so many opinions" is Publius Terentius Afr. This man was an ancient Roman playwright and comedian from Carthage. Later, he settled in Rome with the senator Terentius Lucan as his slave. Thanks to his mind, he stood out from the crowd of the same slaves. Terence Lucan noticed a gifted young man and took care of his education. Subsequently, Publius Terentius received freedom.

Life storyPublius Terence

We have already found out who said "How many people, so many opinions" - a popular phrase today. Now let's study the biography of this brilliant playwright.

Terence, whose expression "How many people, so many opinions" gained popularity, was born in 195 BC and died in 159 BC. His biography has come down to us thanks to the history of the life of Publius written by Suetonius in antiquity. The nickname Afr suggests that he was from African or Libyan tribes. Although Terentius was a slave, he managed to enter the upper strata of society of that time. He became friends with Scipio the Younger and entered the circle he created, which had the goal of making the speech and manners of the Romans more noble. Popular politicians, poets, writers attended this meeting, they were united by a single goal - to make the Latin language more elegant. Terentius found patrons there who encouraged him to write comedies.

Publius was the best at getting contamination-composing either based on two plays by a writer or several authors. He used the works of Greek authors Apollonius of Athens and Menander. In 166-160 BC, using the plots of the Attic comedy, he created six plays: "Girl from Andros", "Self-Tormentor", "Eunuch", "Brothers" - these are modified works of Menander; "Mother-in-law" and "Formion" - the works of Apollonius of Athens. In creatednew plays, the author of "How many people, so many opinions" refused to mix Roman and Greek features, as well as too rough and harsh comedy, which Plautus sinned.

Although Terentius used contamination in his plays, the storyline develops consistently, psychologically well-defined characters contrast with traditional ones. It should also be mentioned that Publius Terentius had a huge influence on the ancient Roman comedy-togata.

All of Terence's writings were not lost in time, they were preserved (which is very rare), given the year they were written. Also, his works were taught and analyzed during his lifetime in schools.

Terence died in 159 BC. It is believed that he died in a shipwreck en route to Greece.

Comedy Terence

Terentsy - the one who said "how many people, so many opinions" - wrote great plays. His works differed from the comedies of that time in a small number of songs and dances. Jokes and puns were also kept to a minimum. Publius did not exaggerate human flaws and ridiculous situations in order to make the audience laugh, he used "meaningful" laughter, like Menander. Terence accurately painted the plot of the picture, the characters of the characters. Unlike Plautus - also a comedian - he did not force his characters to deceive each other. His idea was that his characters did not immediately recognize each other, everything happened only happened at the end of the play.

The fathers of the main characters of Publius' plays are much smarter and more reasonable, and if they misunderstand something, then everything becomesin circles. So it was in his plays "Mother-in-law", "Brothers", "Formion". In the comedy "Eunuch" the heroine Faida - a girl of easy virtue, he makes a noble woman, like Bacchida in the play "Mother-in-law".

Terentsy uses the technique of a double plot in his works. That is, there is an interweaving of two love lines, usually relatives, while the happy outcome of each pair depends on the other. This technique is used by Terentius in every play except "The Mother-in-Law".

Publius Terentius in his prologues to plays did not reveal the plot, as Plautus did, but on the contrary, he defended his heroes. The playwright did not use Italian flavor, he leaned more towards Greek than Roman art. That is, Terence tried not to deviate from the given plot and mood of the Greek original.

In the play "Brothers", the comedian shows two completely opposite methods of raising children, as well as their future life. Aeschines, the son of Demea, Mikion adopted and raised in affection, and the second son - Ctesiphon - Demei raised on his own, in severity. This play tells about the love adventures of Ctesiphon and Aeschines. Aeschines kidnaps a slave girl in love with his brother Ctesiphon. The mother of the slave and Demei think that Aeschines himself likes her, but later the misunderstanding is cleared up and Demei wins the love and affection of both his sons.

Latin

In Latin, the expression "How many people, so many opinions" will be "Quot capĭta,tot sensūs". Transcription [Kvot kapita, that sensus]. Now you know not only who said "How many people, so many opinions", but also its Latin counterpart.

Comedy "Formion"

Formion is a freeloader who helps two cousins sort out the love. He helps his first brother to marry the girl he loves dearly. The father of another brother wanted to marry his daughter to his nephew, and upon learning that he was already married, he decided to upset the marriage. Phormion, who had obtained money from this father by cunning, ransomed the slave girl whom another brother loved. This comedy has a rather complex plot and confusion of the main characters.

Conclusion

Now you know the biography and interesting facts from the biography of the one who said "How many people, so many opinions." This truly brilliant man proved that thanks to his mind, you can climb to the top of the world and leave your mark on history.