There is a strange desire among people to attach particular importance to their origin, as if a man's worth should be estimated by what he came from rather than what he has become.

해석

There is a strange desire among people to attach particular importance to their origin, as if a man's worth should be estimated by what he came from rather than what he has become.

사람들 사이에는 자기의 혈통을 특히 중요시하려는 야릇한 욕망이 있다. 마치 사람의 가치는 그의 사람됨 보다 그의 태생에 의해서 평가되어야 한다는 듯이.

※ attach importance to N

∼을 중요시하다

※ estimate

평가하다, 견적하다, 판단하다

※ what he came from

태생 (parentage, ancestry)

※ what he has become

그의 사람됨, 현재의 그

would[had] rather[sooner] BV (준조동사적 용법)

would rather BV

=had rather BV

“차라리 ∼하는 편이 좋다”, “차라리 ∼하고 싶다”

ex-1) I would rather go today than tomorrow. 내일보다 오히려 오늘 가고 싶다.

ex-2) Which would you rather have, tea or coffee? 홍차와 커피 중에 어는 쪽을 좋아하세요?

ex-3) He had rather dance than eat. 그는 밥보다도 춤을 좋아한다.