Kto się wstydzi pracy, niewart chleba i kołaczy
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What it means
“Whoever is ashamed of work is not worthy of bread or sweet rolls.” Those who look down on honest labour deserve neither basic sustenance nor treats. Work is honourable; idleness is not.
English equivalent
He who does not work, neither shall he eat.
Vocabulary
- wstydzić się — to be ashamed of
- praca — work
- wart — worthy
- kołacz — sweet roll, braided bread
Grammar note
'Wstydzić się' takes the genitive: 'wstydzić się pracy'. 'Niewart' + genitive: 'niewart chleba i kołaczy'.
Cultural context
Kołacze (sweet rolls) were festive food; pairing them with plain bread ('chleb') contrasts everyday necessity with celebration.
Intermediate
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