Jak się nie ma, co się lubi, to się lubi, co się ma
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What it means
Literally “if you don’t have what you like, you like what you have.” Means making the best of what’s available — “if you can’t have what you love, love what you have.”
Vocabulary
- lubić — to like
- mieć — to have
Grammar note
Uses impersonal 'się' constructions throughout — 'się lubi' (one likes), 'się ma' (one has). A very elegant parallel structure.
Cultural context
A pragmatic, stoic attitude characteristic of Polish folk wisdom — make do and find contentment.
Intermediate
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