Kto chlebem gardzi, to nim Pan Bóg bardziej
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What it means
“He who scorns bread, God scorns him even more.” Wasting or disrespecting food — especially bread — is a sin that brings divine disfavour. Gratitude for basic sustenance is a moral duty.
Vocabulary
- chleb — bread
- gardzić — to scorn, to despise
- Pan Bóg — the Lord God
- bardziej — more, even more
Grammar note
'Gardzić' takes the instrumental case: 'chlebem' (instrumental of 'chleb'). 'Nim' is instrumental of 'on', referring back to the person.
Cultural context
In Polish folk tradition, bread is sacred. Dropping bread was considered sinful; wasting it invited punishment. This proverb encodes that reverence.
Intermediate
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