# I need a Latin translation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-latin-translation/375809>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 9, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-latin-translation/375809 "2006-10-09T15:49:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-latin-translation/375809/1 "2006-10-09T15:49:10Z")

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I need the following phrase translated into Latin  
“If you are going to do dumb things, you have to be tough.”  
It’s for a certificate for a friend that injured themselves dirt bike riding. I’m giving them a certificate honoring their entrance into the Dumb Tough club.

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-latin-translation/375809/2 "2006-10-09T17:43:14Z")

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Si acturus es fatua, necesse est tibi durus esse.

(If you are going to do stupid things [literally “stupids”], it is necessary for you to be tough.)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-latin-translation/375809/3 "2006-10-09T17:49:02Z")

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Thanks!  
It looks very classy on the certificate. 😃