This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Russian to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

Хороших людей больше, просто плохие заметнее.

English translation: There are more good people than bad, even if you don't notice them.

18:28 Dec 19, 2013
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Maxim
Russian term or phrase: Хороших людей больше, просто плохие заметнее.
The maxim of Dmitry Likhachev. I cannot find a good translation for this expression which would be as succinct and catchy as the original.
Sasha Spencer
United States
Local time: 16:21
English translation:There are more good people than bad, even if you don't notice them.
Explanation:
#

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 mins (2013-12-19 18:45:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If you want to use more flowery language, then consider:

Good people outnumber bad people, they are just less conspicuous.
Selected response from:

Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 00:21
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5There are more good than bad people in the world but rarely do they make the evening news
skymir
4 +2Good people are the majority, but / it's just that the bad ones stick out (much more)
Michael Korovkin
4 +1there are more good people than bad ones: it is just that it is easier to notice the bad ones
LilianNekipelov
4 +1Good people are more common, but/it's just that bad ones are more noticeable
Elizabeth Kulikov
3 +1There are more good people than bad, even if you don't notice them.
Mikhail Kropotov
4Good people prevail, it's just that bad people are easier to spot.
Sasha A. Pal (X)
4Good people outnumber the bad; it's just that the rotten ones get all the attention.
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
4Good people prevail but the bad ones are the eye-catching.
AlbinaWrites


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
There are more good people than bad, even if you don't notice them.


Explanation:
#

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 mins (2013-12-19 18:45:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If you want to use more flowery language, then consider:

Good people outnumber bad people, they are just less conspicuous.

Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 00:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 376
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rachel Douglas: But I would keep the emphasis on the baddies in the second half: "There are more good people than bad, it's just that the bad ones are more conspicuous" or "... it's just that the bad ones get the attention."
5 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

39 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
There are more good than bad people in the world but rarely do they make the evening news


Explanation:
I know what you mean. The Russian version has a real ring to it. This was the best I could come up with. I don't know if it's an "official" saying but I think I heard it before. There are others which are a bit more formal like "There are more good people than bad, We just don't hear much about them."

skymir
Local time: 18:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yulia Tsybysheva BA MSc MCIL
1 hr
  -> thanks
agree  Amy Lesiewicz: Reminds me of the famous saying "Well-behaved women rarely make history." :-)
3 hrs
  -> thanks lol
agree  Sarah McDowell: I like this way of saying it and as a matter of fact I think I've heard this English quote somewhere before.
13 hrs
  -> thanks, me too although I wish I came up with it myself :))
agree  svetlana cosquéric
17 hrs
  -> thanks!
agree  Natalia Volkova: Sounds great.
22 hrs
  -> thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
there are more good people than bad ones: it is just that it is easier to notice the bad ones


Explanation:
Another option.

LilianNekipelov
United States
Local time: 18:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
39 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Good people are the majority, but / it's just that the bad ones stick out (much more)


Explanation:
... una versione :)))

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 00:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 174

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  MariyaN (X)
2 hrs
  -> thanks!
agree  cyhul
5 hrs
  -> thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Good people prevail, it's just that bad people are easier to spot.


Explanation:
A variant.

Sasha A. Pal (X)
United States
Local time: 18:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Russian
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Good people are more common, but/it's just that bad ones are more noticeable


Explanation:
My take on this one. A shorter target term is truer to the original.

Elizabeth Kulikov
Local time: 01:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Angela Greenfield
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Good people outnumber the bad; it's just that the rotten ones get all the attention.


Explanation:
My proposition

Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
United States
Local time: 18:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 97
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

754 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Good people prevail but the bad ones are the eye-catching.


Explanation:
Refers to bad people being more noticeable than good people.

AlbinaWrites
United States
Local time: 17:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search