The sciences of only one nation, the Greeks, have come down to us, because they were translated through Al-Ma'mun's efforts. He was successful in this direction because he had many translators at his disposal and spent much money in this connection.
Either the translator leaves the author in peace, as much as is possible, and moves the reader towards him: or he leaves the reader in peace, as much as possible, and moves the author towards him.
The biggest markets for my books outside the UK are France and Italy, and those are the two countries where I also have the closest personal relationships with my translators - I don't know whether that's a coincidence, or if there's something to be learned from it.
Translation is that which transforms everything so that nothing changes.
It is useless to read Greek in translation; translators can but offer us a vague equivalent.
Many of the Central Asians know Russian, and Ted Levin speaks it fluently. I speak Chinese, but Mongolian is completely different, so we had to have translators.
Common European thought is the fruit of the immense toil of translators. Without translators, Europe would not exist; translators are more important than members of the European Parliament.
Men talk of "the mistakes of Scripture. " I thank God that I have never met with any. Mistakes of translation there may be, for translators are men. But mistakes of the original word there never can be, for the God who spoke it is infallible, and so is every word he speaks, and in that confidence we find delightful rest.
Translators are like ninjas. If you notice them, they’re no good.
It is only logical for the translator to become a part of the world of the author.
For me, every translation is a new book, with the translator inevitably broadening the meaning of the original book in any translation.
Writers rush in where publishers fear to tread and where translators fear to tread
I have a deep love for the art of translation, and I couldn't find a novel that captured the fascinating, reckless adventure of it as I'd experienced it, or portrayed translators as the passionate risk-takers that so many of the translators I know are. So I wrote the book I couldn't find.
I have a tendency to trust translators, mainly because nobody does it for the money.
I've heard of translators collaborating closely with their authors, sometimes even living with them for a while, but that's not me.
Writer's make national literature, while translators make universal literature.
We are all mediators, translators.
A translator is to be like his author; it is not his business to excel him.
What is the task of the translator? I think the task depends on the book and on the translator.
A satisfactory translation is not always possible, but a good translator is never satisfied with it. It can usually be improved. (Newmark)
