16.11.24: level 2; degrees of comparison [7]; object of comparison (2); [i] tam … quam …; [ii] minus … quam …, and [iii] the bigger the better!

[1] Two people / things being compared may be the same i.e. a comparative of equality. English uses “X is as [adjective] as Y” e.g. John is as tall as Peter. Alternatively, a person / thing may not be as big as someone / something else. In this type of construction a comparative adjective is not used – either in English or in Latin.

To express this idea Latin uses (nōn) tam [adjective] quam …

Antōnius est tam [altus] quam Lūcius. │ Antonius is as [tall] as Lucius.

Tam esse clēmēns tyrannus quam rēx importūnus potest (Cicero) │ A tyrant may be as mild as a king may be harsh

Via Latīna nōn tam longa est quam via Appia. │The Latin Road is not as long as the Appian Way.

Nōn enim tam praeclārum est scīre Latīnē quam turpe nescīre (Cicero) │ For it is not as praiseworthy to know Latin as it is shameful to not know it.

From “In taberna quando sumus” (Medieval)

Tam prō Pāpā quam prō rēge / bibunt omnēs sine lēge │ Without restraint they all drink [literally] as to the Pope as to the king [ = equally to the Pope and to the king; they drink as many toasts to the Pope as they do to the king]

[2] one may be less than as opposed to more than

minus … quam …

Canis minus vēlōx quam cervus est. │ A dog is less swift than a deer.

Mīles minus fortis quam prūdēns est. │ The soldier is less brave than wise. 

English may “play around” with translations of “less” i.e. “The dog is slower than a deer / isn’t as swift as a deer” and “The soldier is not so much brave as wise”.

[3] “The bigger, the better / the more the merrier”

[a] quantō [+ comparative] … tantō [+ comparative] / the ____ er … the ____ er

Quantō pulchrior tempestās erat, tantō fēlīciōrēs erāmus. │ The nicer the weather was, the happier we were.

[b] quō [+ comp.] … hōc (eō) [+ comp.] / the ____ er … the ____ er

Quō pulchrior tempestās erat, hōc fēlīciōrēs erāmus. │ The nicer the weather was, the happier we were.

Quō quis est fortior, eō est generōsior.  │ The braver someone is, the nobler he is.

Quō quid est melius, eō rārius est. │ The better a thing, the rarer it is.