Section 4. OF[1] WHAT USE IS IT?
Reading edition
Section 4. OF[1] WHAT USE IS IT?
When[2] Franklin made his discovery of the identity[3] of lightning[4] and electricity[4], it[4] was sneered at[5], and people asked: “Of what use is it?” To[6] which his apt reply was: “What is the use of a child?—It may[7] become a man!”—S. Smiles.
At last the book was found. Endlich {fand sich} das Buch.
{fand man}
Say ‘people (man) sneered at it.’
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Of — it, Wozu nützt es?Note 2 · ‘When’, referring to definite time of the Past, must always be rendered by ‘als’.Note 3 · of the identity, von der Identität, f.; see S. 3, N. 2.Note 4 · When the agent from which the action proceeds is not mentioned, the English Passive Voice is often rendered by a reflective verb, or by the Note 5 · A. To sneer at something, über etwas spotten; B. ‘at it’ = there at, darüber. The English pronouns ‘it’, ‘them’, ‘that’, and ‘those’, dependNote 6 · To — was = Upon this (Hierauf) he (inverted constr., see App. § 14) gave the following striking (treffend) answer.Note 7 · may = can; to become a man, zum Manne werden.