# Latin translation needed

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-needed/422203>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 10, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-needed/422203 "2007-10-10T13:59:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-needed/422203/1 "2007-10-10T13:59:31Z")

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I found this in _The Infinite Jest_, can someone tell me exactly what it means?

_Te occidere possunt, sed te edere no possunt nefas est_

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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 10, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-needed/422203/2 "2007-10-10T14:23:15Z")

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Assuming the ‘no’ is ‘non’, that would be ‘They can kill you, but they cannot eat you – it is not pleasing to the gods.’