I read this somewhere years ago but I don't know the meaning or its source. Help.
2007-03-26 17:56:25 · 22 answers · asked by Sabrina(Susananita) 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Jimbob: If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. Do you want that translated?
Stephen & Herman: Thank you, I think you must be right! Much appreciated. I'll do my research now. Thanks.
2007-03-26 18:09:46 · update #1
This line was written in ink and nib (not ball point), and the ink was faded so I'm not sure if it read "homi" or "honi".
However, thanks to all the positive responses, you've been a great help.
2007-03-26 18:23:57 · update #2
LOL, it is soooo funny to read all the versions!!!
the sentence is "Honni soit qui mal y pense" in modern french, or Honi soit qui mal y pense in old one.
it is the motto of the Order of the Garter, and it means shame on who thinks evil of it... meaning, the shame is on the person having dirty thoughts, not in the doer with good intentions.
The order of the Garter is the oldest British Knighthood order, dating back to the Medieval times. The story of the motto is interesting - it is said that the king lost a garter, and a courtesan picked it up and gave it to the king. Everybody started snickering, and the king said "honni soit qui mal y pense"... :)) and started a knighthood order.
2007-03-26 19:44:56 · answer #1 · answered by OneLilithHidesAnother 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's hoNi not hoMi. Sometimes translated as 'He may be honest, who thinks badly' .
Motto of Order of the Garter, probably best translated as 'Those who think evil should be ashamed.'
Honi soit qui mal y pense, ne choppez pas ma lady's bonce, and other puerile interpretations come to mind.
2007-03-27 12:03:42 · answer #2 · answered by cymry3jones 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
erm isn't it "honi soit qui mal y pense"?
my dad was a Royal Engineer and a damn good one to
with everyone else on the whole Evil to Evil Thinker response
2007-03-27 01:34:11 · answer #3 · answered by Icarus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's "honi" not "homi" - and "honi" isn't really "evil", it's more like English "shame" - and neither is "mal" = "evil", it's more like bad, or "poorly" - so "Anyone who thinks badly (of this) should be ashamed" is about as close as one can come in English.
2007-03-27 01:44:20 · answer #4 · answered by frebbo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the literal translation is:
shame upon those who think this is shameful.
and the original is:
honi soit qui mal y pense.
2007-03-27 02:18:33 · answer #5 · answered by john s 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's "honni soit qui mal y pense"from the verb "honnir"which means " to disgrace".it's the motto of" l'ordre de le Jarretière" in england.it roughly means" shame on those who have bad thoughts"
2007-03-27 02:52:25 · answer #6 · answered by Dori 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Homi soit qui mal y pense means....
Homi is who badly thinks of it
2007-03-27 01:59:37 · answer #7 · answered by Hug It Out 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it means " evil be upon him who evil thinks of this" It was said when a lady's garter fell to the floor. Beecause the garter was a symbol of her possible position as a priestess of witchcraft the knight took the garter and put it on his own leg, saying " evil be upon him who thinks evil of this" the action resulted in the formation of the knights of the garter.
2007-03-27 01:03:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
do you know this is used as the motto of the Times newspaper? Look at the top of the front page and it is there.
2007-03-28 18:21:17 · answer #9 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Literally it means "Shame on him(or her) who thinks evil of it."
The first word is spelt HONI (one N) on the motto.
2007-03-27 04:05:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋