• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “the reason and dignity of the human being,” this phrase expresses the philosophical and ethical idea that people are defined by rational thought and inherent dignity. It appears in moral, philosophical, and legal discussion about the basic qualities that distinguish people in society, protect them, and support human rights.

  Vocabulary

  • rozum — reason, intellect, mind
  • godność — dignity, worth
  • człowieka — of the human being (genitive of 'człowiek')

  Grammar note

  The genitive 'człowieka' (of the human) applies to both 'rozum' and 'godność' at once, making a compact double-noun phrase typical of formal or philosophical Polish prose.

  Cultural context

  The phrase echoes Enlightenment philosophy and appears often in Polish Catholic social teaching and constitutional discussion, both of which strongly stress the inviolable dignity of the person.

  Advanced

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!