Człek do pracy stworzon, ptak do lotu
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What it means
Man was made for work and the bird for flight. Each creature has its natural purpose, and work is seen as a human duty.
English equivalent
Man was born to toil.
Vocabulary
- człek — man, person (archaic/poetic form of człowiek)
- stworzon — created, made (archaic past participle of stworzyć)
- lot — flight
Grammar note
'Stworzon' is an archaic short-form past passive participle; modern Polish would use 'stworzony'.
Cultural context
The saying reflects an older Polish work ethic, where labour was seen as a natural human duty.
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