The contribution of the Greeks was nothing less than the creation of the very idea of science as we know it.
[原译]希腊人的贡献只不过是建立了正如我们今天所了解的“科学”这个概念。（《科技英语结构分析和翻译》，p.515）
请分析 nothing less than 的含义。
如前所述, no more than (nothing more than) + 数词或名词, 常常用来表达说话人的一种口气: 强调数量之少或事物之小(不重要、简单等等)。no more + 形容词(或副词) + than 则使形容词的意义向其反面转化。作为 no more than 之反义词的 no less than, 不言而喻, 是用来表达说话人的相反的口气的。no less than + 数词或名词, 意在强调其多(as many as, as much as) 或强调其大(其重要); no less + 形容词(或副词) + than, 则强调形容词或副词所表达的性质丝毫也不减弱。例如:
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The lion is no less cruel than the tiger. (言其残忍) 狮子与老虎同样残忍。
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It is known that certain metals are no less conductive than copper. (言导电性之好) 众所周知,某些金属与铜具有同样好的导电性。
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The number of the students is no less than 1,000. (言其多) 学生人数多达一千人。
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Sunlight is no less necessary than fresh air to a healthy condition of body. 日光和新鲜空气对于身体健康都是不可缺少的。
nothing less than(一模一样、完全相同、不外是、简直是、一点也不差)所表达的口气是与no less than 完全相同的,换言之,是与 no more than, nothing more than 完全相反的。例如:
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That's nothing less than a miracle. 那完全是一个奇迹。(决不能译为“只不过是……”)
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His performance in the role of the king was nothing less than marvelous. 他扮演国王的演出简直是太妙了。
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The strike was nothing less than a national catastrophe. 那次罢工简直是一场全国性的灾难。
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It was nothing less than criminal. (LMED) 那简直就是犯罪。
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It's nothing less than murder to send that poor boy down the Falls Road without a gun.
(LDCE) 派那可怜的孩子不带枪走福尔兹那条路,那简直就是谋杀他。
综上所述可以看出,你所提问的句子的译文在口气上是有毛病的:原作者是说希腊人贡献之大,因而流露出赞赏、惊奇的口气,而译者却变成说希腊人贡献之小了,因而流露出轻视、贬低的口气。
[试译]希腊人的贡献简直可以说是建立了如我们今天所了解的“科学”这个概念。