[*] 559. A clause of Result or Characteristic may be introduced <*> quīn after a general negative, where quīn is equivalent to quī ( quae , quod ) nōn :—
- Clauses of Result:—
- “nēmō est tam fortisquīn [= quī nōn] reī novitāte perturbētur” (B. G. 6.39) , no one is so brave as not to be disturbed by the unexpected occurrence.
- “nēmō erat adeō tardus quīn putāret” (B. C. 1.69) , no one was so slothful as not to think, etc.
- “quis est tam dēmēnsquīn sentiat” (Balb. 43) , who is so senseless as not to think, etc.?
- “nīl tam difficilestquīn quaerendō investīgārī possiet” (Ter. Haut. 675) , nothing's so hard but search will find it out (Herrick).
- Clauses of Characteristic:—
- “nēmō nostrum estquīn [= quī nōn] sciat” (Rosc. Am. 55) , there is no one of us who does not know.
- “nēmō fuit mīlitum quīn vulnerārētur” (B. C. 3.53) , there was not one of the soldiers who was not wounded.
- “ecquis fuit quīn lacrimāret” (Verr. 5.121) , was there any one who did not shed tears?
- “quis est quīn intellegat” (Fin. 5.64) , who is there who does not understand?
- “hōrum nihil estquīn [= quod nōn] intereat” (N. D. 3.30) , there is none of these (elements) which does not perish.
- “nihil est illōrumquīn [= quod nōn] ego illī dīxerim” (Pl. Bac. 1012) , there is nothing of this that I have not told him.
[*] Note.-- Quīn sometimes introduces a pure clause of result with the sense of ut nōn : as,numquam tam male est Siculīs quīn aliquid facētē et commodē “dīcant” (Verr. 4.95) , things are never so bad with the Sicilians but that they have something pleasant or witty to say.
For quīn in independent constructions. see § 440 <*>