[*] 518. General Conditions (§ 513. 2) have usually the same forms as Particular Conditions. But they are sometimes distinguished in the following cases:— [*] a. The Subjunctive is often used in the second person singular, to denote the act of an indefinite subject (you = any one). Here the Present Indicative of a general truth may stand in the apodosis:—
- vīta hūmāna prope utī ferrum est: sī exerceās, conteritur; sī nōn exerceās, tamen rōbīgō interficit (Cato de M.), human life is very like iron: if you use it, it wears away; if you don't use it, rust still destroys it.
- “virtūtem necessāriō glōria, etiamsī tū id nōn agās, cōnsequitur ” (Tusc. 1.91) , glory necessarily follows virtue, even if that is not one's aim.
- “sī prohibita impūne trānscenderis, neque metus ultrā neque pudor est ” (Tac. Ann. 3.54) , if you once overstep the bounds with impunity, there is no fear or shame any more.
- “sī quōs aliquā parte membrōrum inūtilīs nōtāvērunt, necārī iubent ” (Q. C. 9.1.25) , if they [ever] mark any infirm in any part of their limbs, they [always] order them to be put to death. [Present.]
- “ sī ā persequendō hostīs dēterrēre nequīverant, ab tergō circumveniēbant ” (Iug. 50) , if [ever] they were unable to prevent the enemy from pursuing, they [always] surrounded them in the rear. [Past.]
- “sī quis ā dominō prehenderētur, concursū mīlitum ēripiēbātur ” (B. C. 3.110) , if any (runaway) was arrested by his master, he was (always) rescued by a mob of soldiers.
- “accūsātōrēs, sī facultās incideret, poenīs adficiēbantur ” (Tac. Ann. 6.30) , the accusers, whenever opportunity offered, were visited with punishment.
- “ sī quis collēgam appellāsset, ab eō ita discēdēbat ut paenitēret nōn priōris dēcrētō stetisse ” (Liv. 3.36.8) , if any one appealed to a colleague, he [always] came off in such case that he repented not having submitted to the decree of the former decemvir. [Cf. Sōcratēs, quam sē cumque in partem dedisset, omnium fuit facile “prīnceps” (De Or. 3.60) , in whatever direction Socrates turned himself, he was (always) easily the foremost (if in any. etc.).]