Kto mieczem wojuje, ten od miecza ginie
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What it means
Literally “he who fights by the sword dies by the sword.” Means live by the sword, die by the sword — those who use violence or aggression will ultimately be destroyed by the same means.
Vocabulary
- miecz — sword
- wojować — to wage war / to fight (imperfective)
- ginąć — to perish / to die (imperfective)
Grammar note
'Mieczem' uses the instrumental — the weapon used in fighting. 'Od miecza' uses the genitive after 'od' — dying from/by the sword.
Cultural context
A biblical reference (Matthew 26:52) deeply embedded in Polish culture. Used in political and moral commentary.
Intermediate
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