>>15 I don't think its necessary to read classics in the original. You are missing out on a lot of nuances, but translations can have a value all of their own. American religious fundies are insanely articulate because they study the KJV. This isn't true of every language. I've noticed a lot of English translations of Arabic or Persian classics are sloppy, inconsistent, and not enjoyable to read. The other advantage of classical languages was the way they bridged different cultures without crushing them, whereas English and French smother and strangle. If you want to passively consume stuff, English is the best language for that.
I don't think its necessary to read classics in the original. You are missing out on a lot of nuances, but translations can have a value all of their own. American religious fundies are insanely articulate because they study the KJV. This isn't true of every language. I've noticed a lot of English translations of Arabic or Persian classics are sloppy, inconsistent, and not enjoyable to read. The other advantage of classical languages was the way they bridged different cultures without crushing them, whereas English and French smother and strangle. If you want to passively consume stuff, English is the best language for that.