Jak się człowiek spieszy, to się diabeł cieszy
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What it means
When a person hurries, the devil rejoices. Haste leads to mistakes, and mistakes serve the devil’s purposes. A warning against rushing.
English equivalent
Haste makes waste. / The devil is in the details.
Vocabulary
- spieszyć się — to hurry, to rush
- diabeł — devil
- cieszyć się — to be glad, to rejoice
Grammar note
Both verbs use the reflexive 'się'. 'Spieszy' and 'cieszy' are third person singular present tense.
Cultural context
Very commonly used in everyday Polish speech to caution someone who is rushing.
Beginner
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