[Chase]

NEH DAQ MAY' 'OH TLHINGAN TEH TLHINGAN
ONLY IN BATTLE IS A KLINGON TRULY KLINGON



Dubotchugh yIpummoH

English Translation: If it's in your way, knock it down

Episode Source: Voyager- Faces



I think the fundamental meaning of this proverb is to not let obstacles in life control you. If an obstacle presents itself, don't succumb to it, find a way to overcome it.

While I don't think the following example is particularly positive or is a good way to have an healthy command climate, but I think this proverb is the basis for when a junior officer feels like his superior officer is an obstacle in his way to glory, he will challenge him to the death for his or her position.
From a more positive angle, I think this proverb is one of the bases for a Klingon's bias for action, which in most cases is a good thing.

I think this proverb can be helpful in real life because everyone is going to have obstacles in their life, in some situations, it might be best to just try to go around or attempt to remove yourself from a bad situation. While many other times it might be best to tackle that obstacle head on. I feel like regardless of which way you choose, it will be better to have a bias for action instead of waiting for something to change.

What is everyone else's thoughts on this particular Proverb?

[qurgh]

Dubotchugh yIpummoH (lit. If he/she/it blocks you, cause him/her/it to fall) is one of those Klingon proverbs that highlights their penchant for action. Barriers are not avoided or circumvented, they are faced head on and pushed out of the way.

On a side note {neH Daq may' 'oH tlhIngan teH tlhIngan} doesn't mean "Only in battle is a Klingon truly Klingon". It's bits mean something like:

neH Daq: the site wants
may' 'oH Klingon: The Klingon is the battle
teH tlhIngan: The Klingon is true

I'd say:

SuvtaHvIS tlhIngan, tlhInganna' moj
While fighting, a Klingon becomes a definite/true Klingon

Or maybe:

tlhInganna' mojmeH, yISuv!
In order to become a true Klingon, fight!

[Chase]

Barriers are not avoided or circumvented, they are faced head on and pushed out of the way.

Thanks for your input Qurgh! Do you think that for a Klingon, this is absolute? Like there is never a situation where a barrier should be circumvented? Do you think it would be considered dishonorable to circumvent an enemy even if it was the best tactical decision at the moment?

[thexpl0r3r]

I'd say that even in human history there were examples of thinking the Klingon way. Just few of them...

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."

"“Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never. In nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

"Fahrkarte bis zur Endstation"

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools"

Those were the great men indeed... True leaders and warriors!

[qurgh]

Thanks for your input qurgh! Do you think that for a Klingon, this is absolute? Like there is never a situation where a barrier should be circumvented? Do you think it would be considered dishonorable to circumvent an enemy even if it was the best tactical decision at the moment?

If something can be circumvented, then it's not really a barrier.

I don't believe this saying is telling us that any action is honourable or dishonourable, just how to act when we are blocked. We should push it aside and move on. I think it goes along with sayings like {bI'IQchugh yIvang!} - "If you are sad, act!" which tell us that doing something, anything, is better than being sad, or {lumbe' tlhInganpu'} - "Klingons do not procrastinate." which tells us that doing something now is better than postponing things to later.

Avoiding an enemy so you can strike them harder later is in itself taking an action, so that is preferred over inaction.

[Chase]

If something can be circumvented, then it's not really a barrier.

I think that is a pretty interesting thought, I have never really thought of it that way. Would you not say that anything that prevents you from progressing on your preferred path is a barrier?

[Bridger]

Interresting points of view.

[qurgh]

I think that is a pretty interesting thought, I have never really thought of it that way. Would you not say that anything that prevents you from progressing on your preferred path is a barrier?

If the preferred path is the only path, then yes. If not, then as Jordan said...

Wouldn't it merely be an obstacle? You may be taken off your preferred path but you can still make progress towards your end goal!

The Klingon word used in the sentence {bot} means "block" or "prevent", so it's talking specifically about things that make you unable to make progress, not just things that slow or force a course correction.

[Bar'ol]

Great proverb can be applied physically or emotionally. Usually applies, "Never give up" to terrans.