brag about

Question

One should not brag about one's physical or military strength. They are all temporary / transient and subject to change. Youthful days are short-lived, and old age is unavoidable. On the other hand, today's most powerful man may become the feeblest (?) of a man tomorrow. History is replete with examples of mighty emperors and kings being dethroned and beheaded or reduced to baggers overnight. Look at President Parvez Mussaraf of Pakistan today! The once all powerful men has been forced to step down. No amount of tricks and chicanery helped him stay in power. He resigned on the pain of being impeached in parliament.

Are the any mistakes and room for improvement? Thanks.

Philip · Accepted Answer

feeblest (?) of a man tomorrow > feeblest of men
baggers > beggars
The once all powerful men > the once all-powerful man
on the pain > for fear of

Avangi · Answer

AbilOne should not brag about one's physical or military strength. They are all temporary / transient and subject to change. Youthful days are short-lived, and old age is unavoidable. On the other hand, today's most powerful man may become ~~the feeblest (?) of a man tomorrow.~~ tomorrow's feeblest. History is replete with examples of mighty emperors and kings being dethroned and beheaded or reduced to ~~baggers~~ beggars overnight. Look at President Parvez Mussaraf of Pakistan today! The once all-powerful ~~men~~ man has been forced to step down. No amount of tricks and chicanery helped him [to] stay in power. He resigned on the pain of being impeached in parliament. / under pain of being impeached by parliament. (I'm not 100% sure of this. "On" is probably correct. )

Are ~~the~~ there any mistakes and room for improvement? Thanks.

I'm a little uneasy with, "No amount of tricks and chicanery helped him." I think "no amount of" is a fixed expression which calls for "could/would help him." Otherwise you'd have to say something like, "His liberal use of tricks and chicanery failed to keep him in power." That is, a simple declarative sentence.

I'm also uncomfortable with the "pain of" thing. I usually hear it as, "He was told to resign on pain of being impeached . . " That is, there's a threat involved. Perhaps it only has to be implied. I just don't know.

Abil · Answer

Thanks Philip and Avangi.

What about this? " No amount of tricks and chicanery could keep him in power."

Avangi · Answer

I think that's good.

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