Thread: Сила есть — ума не надо

"Сила есть, ума не надо" apparently a proverb? Have you heard it before?

It seems to mean something like "Has strength, doesn't need intelligence.." => "He who is strong doesn't need intelligence" (I had to look up "ym")

But the translation given is "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."
I have never heard this proverb so it can't be very common. What about the Russian one? Did I understand it right - is it worth knowing?

It's usually used ironically.

Yes, everyone knows this proverb and it's quite popular -- not one of those archaic things. And yes, it's used ironically, when somebody boasts about/emphasizes his strength too much.

Originally Posted by Johanna

But the translation given is "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."

It's a wrong translation, by the way, since this saying does not have anything to do with violence. It's about cases when someone applies pure physical strength instead of thinking a little, i.e. when you see a door stuck and wouldn't close instead of looking what blocks it you simply push it harder or even kick it. Something breaks as a result and then someone would say: you have strength, you don't need brains. It is usually said when someone breaks something due to excess force applied.

I have never heard this proverb so it can't be very common. What about the Russian one? Did I understand it right - is it worth knowing?

It's a rather widespread saying, at least I've been hearing it and using it myself quite often.

Originally Posted by Ramil

It's a wrong translation, by the way, since this saying does not have anything to do with violence. It's about cases when someone applies pure physical strength instead of thinking a little, i.e. when you see a door stuck and wouldn't close instead of looking what blocks it you simply push it harder or even kick it. Something breaks as a result and then someone would say: you have strength, you don't need brains. It is usually said when someone breaks something due to excess force applied.

+1

Originally Posted by Johanna

I had to look up "yм"

I didn't even understand right away what you meant. English 'm' and Russian 'м' look totally different for Russian eyes.
The 'm' looks like Russian 'т' in some types.

Сила есть — ума не надо.
Here are four examples of usage:

Ералаш cartoon: http://rutube.ru/tracks/1499427.html



youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GskMKe7dzyw

Thanks very much for the responses. I'm feeling a bit put off at the moment, after reading those comments in the Political forum, so I'll come back some other day and check this properly. Laters.

All great explanations, and picture.

I really understand this now and I have memorised the phrase.
Good to know that it is in fact commonly used. I came across it in connection with looking into the different meanings of "сила"

Olya... yeah that was a beginners mistake with the "ум" -- I do occassionally mix them up... I.e. I write "B" when I mean "Б" etc...
The handwriting doesn't exaxtly make it easier.