Gdy się człowiek spieszy, to się diabeł cieszy
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What it means
“When a person hurries, the devil rejoices.” Rushing leads to mistakes and poor decisions ; exactly what the devil wants. Take your time and do things properly.
English equivalent
Haste makes waste. / The devil is in the details.
Vocabulary
- spieszyć się — to hurry, to rush
- diabeł — devil
- cieszyć się — to rejoice, to be glad
Grammar note
Both verbs are reflexive ('się'). 'Spieszy się' and 'cieszy się' rhyme, giving the proverb its memorable rhythm.
Cultural context
One of the most commonly used Polish proverbs in everyday speech, often said to someone who is rushing and making errors as a result.
Beginner
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