The Harvard Library motto nonsense.

In the past few years, articles with headings such as:
”哈佛的凌晨4点“
”哈佛大学校训，"
“哈佛大学图书馆警句“
”哈佛图书馆自习室墙上的训言”。
"哈佛大学图书馆的墙壁上，镶嵌着这样20条训言."
"ALLOCUTIONS ON THE WALL OF THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY"
"Aphorism ON THE WALL OF THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY"
" Harvard University Library Study Room Wall VTC Statement"

started spreading like wild fire on Chinese websites, blogs, and BBSes. There is even a book published in China with a bilingual title.

Some of these are in Chinese, some are bilingual. There is only one Chinese version, but at least five different English versions, two of which are written in completely mangled machine translated English. This alone should have warned readers that it could not possibly be a product of Harvard's. But most people seem to prefer blind faith to logic. Yes, a few people tried to open other people's eyes, but for one such attempt, there are hundreds of "Harvard Library Wall engraving" popping up like mushrooms after a spring rain.

This spread of misinformation has now reached epidemic proportion. School teachers are posting them up on billboards, school principals conduct their morning assembly by giving a talk on this, "Learn English" forums, cram schools, are putting these up as "good English learning material"--makes you wonder what qualification these people have when they could not even tell "is lacks diligently" is not "English" at all! Recently, this "nonsense" appeared on the Ministry of Commerce website as a reading reccommendation (中华人民共和国商务部选作双语阅读), and was soundly ridiculed on the Chinadaily BBS ( 堪称 Chinglish 的典范，值得“共勉”！这就是哈佛的凌晨4点！共勉. 有谁知道这是出自何人手笔的吗？)

There are twenty "mottos" in the set. Let us start by examing a few from each of the two "broken English" versions. I will not put down the Chinese version yet, because that will clue you in as to what they mean.

Version I:
1. This moment will nap, you will have a dream; But this moment study,you will interpret a dream.
3. Thought is already is late, exactly is the earliest time.
6. Studies this matter, lacks the time, but is lacks diligently.
15. Today does not walk, will have to run tomorrow.
20. Has not been difficult, then does not have attains

Comments:

1. How can a "moment" (a time) take a nap? "The moment will nap, you will have a dream" tells of two different entities: "the moment" and "you". "Interpret a dream" 不是圆梦. "Interpret a dream" 是“解梦”(See Chinese text below.)

2. There are two verb to be in the first sentence. I said "first sentence" because the comma should be a period. "Exactly is the earliest time": "What" exactly?

6. Anyone with a basic command of English should notice there is a problem with "is lacks diligently."

15. Yes indeed! "Today" cannot walk! You and I can, but certainly not "yesterday","today" or "tomorrow".

20. "Has not been difficult, then does not have attains". Who or what has not been difficult? And pray tell what "does not have attains" means.

Now let's have a look at the corresponding Chinese text.
1.此刻打盹，你将做梦；而此刻学习，你将圆梦。
2.我荒废的今日，正是昨日殒身之人祈求的明日。
6.学习这件事，不是缺乏时间，而是缺乏努力。
15.今天不走，明天要跑。
20.没有艰辛，便无所获。

Clearly, this is a product typical of software produced translation from Chinese (机器翻译的英语), and not something written by, or worthy of Harvard.

How can English so foul be engraved on the wall of the Harvard Library? Give me a break!

Wait. Don't go away; I am not done yet. The worse is yet to come.

The second English version is even more outrageous. Let's look at a few.
13.Now the Halazi mobility will become tomorrow's tears.
17.Representatives income level of education.
18. End the day will not come again.
20. Not difficult, it nil.

Can't figure out what they say? I can't either. So here is the Chinese version to help you out.
13.现在淌的哈喇子，将成为明天的眼泪。
18.一天过完，不会再来。
20.没有艰辛，便无所获。

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