constantia
κρείσσων γὰρ ἦσθα μηκέτ' ὢν ἢ ζῶν τυφλός → thou wert better not alive, than living blind | you were better not alive, than living blind
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
constantĭa: ae, f. 1. constans.
I A firm standing, steadiness, firmness, immutability, unchangeableness, constancy, perseverance (in good prose; esp. freq. in Cic.): (stellarum) perennes cursus atque perpetui cum admirabili incredibilique constantiā, Cic. N. D. 2, 21, 55; cf. id. ib. § 56, and 3, 9, 23: dictorum conventorumque, id. Off. 1, 7, 23; cf. promissi, id. Att. 4, 19 (17), 1: tantā constantiā vocis atque voltūs, Nep. Att. 22, 1: perseverantia constantiaque oppugnandi, Auct. B. Alex. 26.—
II Trop., agreement, harmony, symmetry, consistency: testimoniorum, Auct. Her. 2, 6, 9: ordo et constantia et moderatio dictorum omnium atque factorum, Cic. Off. 1, 28, 98: non ex singulis vocibus philosophi spectandi sunt, sed ex perpetuitate atque constantiā, id. Tusc. 5, 10, 31: in quibus (orationibus) forsitan magis requiratur constantia, id. Clu. 51, 141; cf.: constantiae causā, for consistency's sake, id. ib. 2, 2, 5: quae autem est inter augures conveniens et conjuncta constantia? id. Div. 2, 39, 82: officii, id. Sull. 1, 2. —
2 Firmness of character, steadfastness, immovability, constancy, self - possession: is, qui moderatione et constantiā quietus animo est sibi ipse placatus, ut nec tabescat molestiis, etc., Cic. Tusc. 4, 17, 37; cf. id. ib. 4, 17, 38: Catoni cum incredibilem tribuisset natura gravitatem, eamque ipse perpetuā constantiā roborasset semperque in proposito susceptoque consilio permansisset, etc., id. Off. 1, 31, 112: si soceri Scauri constantiam (ceperis), id. Verr. 1, 17, 52: benevolentiam, non ... ardore quodam amoris, sed stabilitate potius et constantiā judicemus, id. Off. 1, 15, 47: firmamentum constantiae est fides, id. Lael. 18, 65: hinc constantia, illinc furor, id. Cat. 2, 11, 25; id. Sest. 41, 88; id. Phil. 7, 4, 14; id. Off. 1, 28, 98; Nep. Thras. 1, 1; Hor. Epod. 15, 15; Liv. 42, 62, 11: de eorum fide constantiāque dubitatis? Caes. B. G. 7, 77; Brut. ap. Cic. Ep. ad Brut. 1, 16, 10: animi, Ov. M. 11, 293: morum, Tac. H. 3, 86; id. A. 13, 30 fin.; Sen. Const. Sap. 1, 1 sqq.: sunt et alia ingenita quaedam adjumenta vox, latus, patiens laboris valetudo, constantia, decor, i. e. natural firmness, intrepidity, Quint. prooem. § 27 Meyer.; cf. id. 6, prooem. § 11; 12, 5, 2.— Acc. to the notions of the Stoics, = εὐπάθεια; in plur.: sic quattuor perturbationes sunt, tres constantiae ( = εὐπαθείας τρεῖς, Diog. L. 7, 115), Cic. Tusc. 4, 6, 14; cf. Aug. Civ. Dei, 14, 8.
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
(1) cōnstantĭa,⁸ æ, f. (constans),
1 permanence, continuité, invariabilité : hæc in stellis constantia Cic. Nat. 2, 54, cette permanence dans le mouvement des planètes ; dictorum conventorumque constantia et veritas Cic. Off. 1, 23, la fidélité et la franchise dans les paroles et les engagements ; testium constantia Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, invariabilité des témoins ; vocis atque vultus Nep. Att. 22, 1, invariabilité de la voix et du visage
2 fermeté du caractère, des principes, constance : Cic. Pomp. 68 ; Sulla 62 ; Dej. 37 ; Phil. 5, 1, 2 ; etc.
3 esprit de suite, accord, concordance, conformité : constantiæ causā Cic. Tusc. 2, 5, pour être conséquent avec soi-même (pour être logique); non ex singulis vocibus philosophi spectandi sunt, sed ex perpetuitate atque constantia Cic. Tusc. 5, 31, ce n’est pas sur des maximes isolées qu’il faut juger les philosophes, c’est sur la continuité et l’accord de leurs principes.