1

There are two things that men should never weary of, goodness and humility; we get none too much of them in this rough world among cold, proud people.

Is this the same as "It should be sunny tomorrow?"

Source

4 Answers4

3

Should is a modal auxiliary verb, which is a very special category of auxiliary verb in English.

can, could, shall, should, may, might, will, would, must, and sometimes need and dare

Modals have a number of strange characteristics
One of these is that they are systematically ambiguous.
All English modal auxiliaries have at least two kinds of meaning:

  1. a deductive or inductive logical possibility or necessity, called the Epistemic meaning.

  2. a moral permission or necessity, originating from natural or social forces, called Deontic.

The epistemic sense of should is something like "likely by induction", not all that different from the "likely by deduction" of epistemic must. Both are used to announce hypotheses derived from theory or experience.

  • It should be sunny tomorrow.
  • He should be home by now.
  • He must be home by now.
  • This should be the store he mentioned.
  • This must be the store he mentioned.

The deontic sense of should is something like "mild obligation", contrasting with the "strong obligation" of deontic must. It's usually a matter of reminder and nagging, rather than order and obligation.

  • Men should never weary of goodness and humility.
  • You really should get your gutters cleaned before the snow starts.
  • I know I should do it, but I just never have time.
  • You must have your gutters cleaned or pay a fine.

Reminder: All modals have two senses, not just should. They're easy to tell apart once you learn.

John Lawler
  • 107,887
2

The first statement is more like a moral standpoint, in the sense what,in an ideal state, should or should not happen.Something like a commandment.

One should not steal.

The second statement is more like an educated guess:

It should be sunny tomorrow.

would read something like:

*Given the weather conditions today, I assume it would be sunny tomorrow.

(Given my performance), I should clear the interview.*

Gurpreet K Sekhon
  • 2,663
  • But the first one doesn't make it make sense. This is not about obligations if you have read the entire text. –  Nov 24 '13 at 08:00
  • 1
    After your comment, I did go back and read the context.I maintain it is a moral standpoint or an ideal truth, in the protagonist's viewpoint.The slight irreverential tone, does not change the core meaning. – Gurpreet K Sekhon Nov 24 '13 at 08:16
1

The main purpose of should is to express obligation. That is what it is doing in the first sentence. A secondary purpose is to express deduction. That is what it is doing in the second sentence.

Barrie England
  • 140,205
0

Both should never weary and should be sunny can be read as predictions of future events, based on past observation of men and weather.

There is a subtle difference why each should play out as predicted.

I read the author as arguing there is value in men not wearying, perhaps for their own good. The author is hopeful or even commanding for a specific future event. This is distinct from men being likely to not worry, as the weather is likely to be sunny in the future, based on evidence.

Darren Stone
  • 145