--- Giordano Bruno, quoted by Willem Kempen in 'n Ode aan onkunde, onvermoë en onwilligheid, Binne+Land, 9 May 2025
Extract
Die Renaissance-wysneus Giordano Bruno het in die 16de eeu gesê: Se non è vero, è molto ben Trovato. Soos baie Italiaanse sêgoed behoort jy eintlik net die vibe daarvan in te drink pleks daarvan om dit te probeer vertaal, maar dit beteken vaagweg dat selfs as iets nie waar is nie, dit nogtans goed uitgedink behoort te wees. Words to live by.
Wikiquote confirms the attribution to Bruno (citing to De gli heroici furori (1585) [The Heroic Furies; also translated as On Heroic Frenzies]) and offers these translations:
- If it is not true it is very well invented.
- If it is not true, it is well conceived.
- If it is not true, it is a good story.
Wiktionary offers
- even if it is not true, it is well-conceived
- even if it's not true, it's a good story
My English translation riffing on Kempen is "even if it's not true, it should still be well-conceived."
