a sine qua non

sine qua non

A necessary, essential, or required element. The Latin phrases translates literally to "without which not." Some consider a good education to be the sine qua non of a successful career.
See also: non, qua, sine
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a sine qua ˈnon (of/for something)

/%sIneI kwA: "n@Un; American English "noUn/ (from Latin, formal) something that is essential before you can achieve something else: Many people believe that grammar is the sine qua non of language learning.
In Latin, this means ‘without which not’.
See also: non, qua, sine
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • qua
  • sine qua non
  • in petto
  • je ne sais quoi
  • Ne
  • audi alteram partem
  • literally
  • slight
  • in the least
  • festina lente
References in classic literature
(if the classical phrase might be pardoned) a sine qua non.
"The problem of Idlib is difficult and its solution is a sine qua non for creating favorable conditions for the political process in Syria through joint efforts between Moscow and Ankara," Putin said.
Another problem is that indigenous people are seriously handicapped because they cannot make effective representation owing to language problems articulation is a sine qua non of natural justice.
"This approach is above all an acknowledgement of our right to equality as a sine qua non for building democracy and social justice as well as the citizenship principle," she noted.
fighting extremism are seen as essential partners at the formulation phase of the policy, which is a sine qua non for its success and effectiveness.
He said that education was a sine qua non for determining a nation's status in the comity of nations and achieving socio- economic development.
Iran will introduce its new oil contracts next month in which the transfer of technology will be a sine qua non condition, Petroleum Ministry officials said.
* Rover Systems: Like most revolutionary systems that are not initially taken too seriously Rover systems have become a sine qua non in a number of cases as they enable a man on the ground to have a drone's view see his surroundings (for example) on his adequately equipped display.
It has been recognised by all concerned that the implementation of the agreement in letter and spirit is a sine qua non for the redress of the causes of tension and conflicts, big and small, along the long border between the two countries.
"On the other hand, the search for a Europe that will be able to respond effectively to these issues is a sine qua non and in this environment the upcoming elections certainly have a particular interest and at the same time they have a challenge to meet" Vassiliou said, stressing that the broad participation of people in these elections in particular can help.
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde said that loan negotiations with Egypt had stumbled due to political instability in the country, stressing that "stability is a sine qua non condition for the loan".
The chief of the powerful organization, which is a great ally of Damascus, has once again called on Syrian opposition to hold dialogue with President Bashar al-Assad, an option already rejected by opponents who pose as a sine qua non the departure of the head of State.
However, the EP is putting a stronger emphasis on respect for human rights, a sine qua non for the EU to be a credible actor, namely in the fight against terrorism (see Europolitics 4404).
It is a sine qua non that a language keeps itself alive if it retains subtlety and imagination.