Dobrymi chęciami jest piekło wybrukowane
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What it means
Literally “hell is paved with good intentions.” The Polish version of the classic proverb — good intentions alone are not enough; without follow-through, they lead nowhere good.
Vocabulary
- chęci — intentions / willingness (plural)
- piekło — hell
- wybrukować — to pave (perfective)
Grammar note
'Dobrymi chęciami' uses the instrumental plural — the material with which hell is paved. 'Wybrukowane' is a passive participle agreeing with 'piekło'.
Cultural context
A well-known proverb across many cultures. In Polish it often appears in political and social commentary.
Intermediate
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