It is but in the wearing

English translation: it is how one carries out a role* that determines one's worthiness

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:It is but in the wearing
Selected answer:it is how one carries out a role* that determines one's worthiness
Entered by: Jenni Lukac (X)

19:37 Oct 27, 2012
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: It is but in the wearing
"My lord, that last sentiment decides the authorship of the scroll. But, with deference, tyrants seldom can prove blessings; inasmuch as evil seldom eventuates in good. Yet will these people soon have a tyrant over them, if long they cleave to war. Of many javelins, one must prove a scepter; of many helmets, one a crown. It is but in the wearing.—Refill, my lord."

Thank you!
Michael Kislov
Russian Federation
Local time: 13:20
it is how one carries out a role* that determines one's worthiness
Explanation:
An interpretation partially based on the idea expressed in: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/4743/origin-of-id...
Therefore, only those who have excelled in the use of a javelin may be worthy of a scepter, or those who've performed great deeds wearing a helmet merit a crown.
Selected response from:

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 11:20
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +1it is how one carries out a role* that determines one's worthiness
Jenni Lukac (X)
4all you have to do is wear it
Mark Robertson
4one must prove to be worthy to wear (the crown)
Yvonne Gallagher
3see
Vaddy Peters


  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
it is but in the wearing
see


Explanation:
the only difference is who wears what

Vaddy Peters
PRO pts in category: 8
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
it is but in the wearing
all you have to do is wear it


Explanation:
Melville says it better.

Mark Robertson
Local time: 10:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
it is but in the wearing
one must prove to be worthy to wear (the crown)


Explanation:
is the way I read this.

One must act like a King to hold a sceptre or wear a crown, not just be party of the rabble (the many javelins) but ONE will be a scepter just as there may be many helmets but only one crown


Earier he has said that these men have toppled castles in their quest for freedom but ive in hovels and think that by making war that they are proving their freedom but all they are doing is proving they need someone to govern them, a tyrant



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Note added at 5 hrs (2012-10-28 00:57:30 GMT)
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or one must prove ONESELF to be worthy...

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Note added at 17 hrs (2012-10-28 13:05:44 GMT)
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a bit more explanation

not just be part of the rabble= one must stand out from the crowd as an individual who is worthy to hold the sceptre/scepter


"many helmets" = many can wear helmets (as in a battle) but only one is worthy to wear a crown



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Note added at 17 hrs (2012-10-28 13:13:27 GMT)
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a bit more explanation

not just be part of the rabble= one must stand out from the crowd as an individual who is worthy to hold the sceptre/scepter


"many helmets" = many can wear helmets (as in a battle) but only one is worthy to wear a crown



Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 10:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 651
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
it is but in the wearing
it is how one carries out a role* that determines one's worthiness


Explanation:
An interpretation partially based on the idea expressed in: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/4743/origin-of-id...
Therefore, only those who have excelled in the use of a javelin may be worthy of a scepter, or those who've performed great deeds wearing a helmet merit a crown.

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 11:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 392

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  B D Finch
1 day 1 hr
  -> Cheers and thanks, BD.
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