μὴ ὅτι
ἔστι γὰρ τὸ ἔλαττον κακὸν μᾶλλον αἱρετὸν τοῦ μείζονος → the lesser of two evils is more desirable than the greater
English (LSJ)
elliptic phrases, μὴ [λέγε] or μὴ [ὑπολάβητε] ὅπως or ὅτι… (as οὐχ ὅπως for οὐ λέγω ὅπως), stronger than οὐχ ὅπως, not to speak of…, let alone…, folld. by other Conjs., μὴ ὅπως or μὴ ὅτι, not only not, folld. by ἀλλ' οὐδέ, as μὴ ὅπως ὀρχεῖσθαι…, ἀλλ' οὐδ' ὀρθοῦσθαι ἐδύνασθε X. Cyr. 1.3.10; οὐκ ἂν… ἐργαζοίμεθα μὴ ὅτι τὴν τούτων, ἀλλ' οὐδ' ἂν τὴν ἡμετέραν ib. 3.2.21, cf. D. 30.20, 21. μὴ ὅτι folld. by ἀλλά and a neg. or suggested neg., as μὴ ὅτι ἰδιώτην τινά, ἀλλὰ τὸν μέγαν βασιλέα Pl. Ap. 40d, cf. Prt. 319d, etc.; μὴ ὅτι θεός, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄνθρωποι οὐ φιλοῦσι X. Cyr. 7.2.17. in second clause, the first being usu. neg. or suggesting a neg., οὐδὲ ἀναπνεῖν, μὴ ὅτι λέγειν τι δυνησόμεθα Id. Smp. 2.26, cf. Pl. Phdr. 240e, Tht. 161d; after a question expecting a neg. answer, δοκεῖ σοι ῥᾴδιον εἶναι διδάξαι ὁτιοῦν πρᾶγμα, μὴ ὅτι τοσοῦτον; Id. Cra. 427e; [ἁρμονίαι] ἄχρηστοι καὶ γυναιξίν, μὴ ὅτι ἀνδράσι Id. R. 398e; more strongly μὴ ὅτι γε δὴ… D. 54.17 codd.; μὴ ὅτι γε τοσούτου χρόνου ἐπιγεγονότος UPZ 59.23 (ii BC).
German (Pape)
[Seite 175] ἀλλά, = Vorigem; μὴ ὅτι ἰδιώτην τινά, ἀλλὰ τὸν μέγαν βασιλέα, ich will nicht sagen einen Privatmann, sondern den großen König, Plat. Apol. 40 d; μὴ ὅτι τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ μετὰ μαρτύρων, Dem. 30, 20, vgl. 21.
Middle Liddell
1. = μὴ ὅπως, foll. by ἀλλά, Lat. ne dicam, as, μὴ ὅτι ἰδιώτην τινά, ἀλλὰ τὸν μέγαν βασιλέα not to say a private person, but the great king, Plat.; μὴ ὅτι θεός, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄνθρωποι οὐ φιλοῦσιν Xen.
2. οὐδε or καὶ οὐ followed by μὴ ὅτι, as οὐδὲ ἀναπνεῖν, μὴ ὅτι λέγειν τι δυνησόμεθα we shall not be able to breathe, much less to speak, Xen.
