• 45
• human

EN: self
FR: soi
ZH: 自己 (zìjǐ)
JA: 自分 (jibun)
IT: se stesso
DE: sich selbst
ES: uno mismo,una misma
RU: себя́ (sebyá)
EO: mem

BASICS

• he
• I,me
• oneself
• she
• they
• we
• you
• you (2)

DERIVATIVES

• heshe
• his - her
• meyou
• personal pronoun

MORE

• emigrate
• immigrate
• chance
• danger
• want,will
• introduce
• emotional dependence
• fear
• enemy

45. What dream are you talking about…

“Admittedly, this is a dream, but let’s believe that it will soon spread across the surface of the world…” “A dream? What dream are you talking about?” exclaimed the God of war, at the height of his incomprehension. But the visitor’s silhouette was already melting away on the way back…

WIVIWIC:

• 04-dream
• 26-you
• 30-say
• 32-which

25. Not without exceptional gravity…

Had it not been for the serenity of the head of the council, this audience would no doubt have broken up in the noise and bustle. Nevertheless, he obtained immediate silence: “So be it!” he began, not without exceptional gravity, “you find yourself ‘unable’ to receive immortality, and the reasons for this prohibition are your own…

WIVIWIC:

• 22-past
• 22-rarely
• 22-start
• 26-he
• 28-no
• 32-without

30. The craftsmen had been happy to tell him…

The stranger had visited this factory some time ago, and the craftsmen had been happy to tell him all about the object produced there. The thread in question was used to weave passions, to tie up loves, and sometimes to reveal lovers’ plots.

WIVIWIC:

• 22-past
• 26-he
• 30-tell
• 31-happy

21. Offer you immortality…

This is why, after deliberation by the council, and with the unanimous agreement of its members, we have decided to offer you immortality and thus keep you among us.” At these words, only the warrior clan, although previously involved in the decision, expressed real discontent.

WIVIWIC:

• 01-immortality
• 22-past
• 26-you
• 28-decide
• 41-offer

26. What present you wish to take…

… However, visitor, by virtue of the friendship you cannot reject a second time, and by the powers vested in me, I expect you to tell us what present you wish to take with you.” This overture seemed excessive to many members of the audience, but the visitor hardly gave them time to think about it, for his answer was clear-cut and unambiguous:

WIVIWIC:

• 08-take
• 26-you
• 31-wish
• 41-gift

10. He had come such a long way…

He therefore decided to let this guest continue his senseless quest, since he had come such a long way to conduct it. He did, however, point out that a predecessor of his had sinned yesterday by seizing a fire which had led to him being chained to the Caucasus mountains. If it was human destiny to repeat that mistake, then so be it.

WIVIWIC:

• 19-go
• 21-road
• 22-past
• 26-he
• 34-long

11. Leaving his promontory…

The visitor seemed troubled by this warning. He seemed different after this interview, as if the veiled threat of his powerful interlocutor had sounded the early hour of a reminder. Leaving his promontory ever earlier, and the sweets that always flowed there in great numbers, the man devoted himself with scrupulous diligence to consulting all those who would welcome him into their activities.

WIVIWIC:

• 19-leave
• 22-past
• 26-he

01. A thousand lights shone on his arrival…

The story goes that one evening, a visitor arrived at the City of the Gods. A thousand lights shone on his arrival, mother-of-pearl stars woven into the imposing walls. The journey was reputed to be so long and so perilous that the newcomer was feted with a display of friendliness and enthusiasm.

WIVIWIC:

• 10-fire
• 10-shine
• 22-past
• 22-when3
• 26-he
• 32-1000

09. To learn how to learn…

“To learn, said the other, a little taken aback, but learning what?!” “I’ve come to learn how to learn” continued the visitor, his heart growing ever lighter. The God of war, with his powerful torso, ready for all kinds of combat, found this one to be of a very mediocre sort.

WIVIWIC:

• 19-come
• 22-past
• 26-me
• 27-learn
• 36-for
• 42-thing

20. We heard that you would be leaving…

Its freshness reminded us of the reality of these places, the abundance of which too many had neglected (…) We heard, however, that you would be leaving us at dawn on the third day. And you see us sad.

WIVIWIC:

• 07-hear
• 19-leave
• 22-future
• 26-we
• 26-you
• 42-thing