"Lightly it came, lightly it went." A variant of 'łatwo przyszło, łatwo poszło'. What is gained without effort or weight is lost just as effortlessly.

"Better to give to children than to take from them." It is nobler and more dignified to be a provider for the next generation than to become dependent on them …

"Better late than never." Doing something belatedly is still preferable to not doing it at all. Used to excuse or accept tardiness or delayed action.

"Better at night in the countryside than by day in Warsaw." Rural peace and quiet — even at night — is preferable to the bustle and stress of the big city. A …

"Better to lose with a wise person than to find with a fool." The company you keep matters more than the outcome. Sharing misfortune with someone intelligent is …

"Better to prevent than to cure." It is wiser to take precautions and avoid problems than to deal with the consequences after the fact. The Polish equivalent of …

"Better Agata than her father." A humorous proverb suggesting that daughters can surpass their fathers, or more broadly that the younger generation can outdo …

"The better is the enemy of the good." Striving for something better can undermine what is already good enough. Perfectionism or the pursuit of improvement can …

"Better a woodpecker in hand than an eagle on a branch." A variant of the 'bird in hand' family of proverbs. What you already possess, however modest, is worth …

"Better a saffron milk cap than nothing." Even something small or modest is better than nothing at all. The rydz (a type of edible mushroom) stands in for any …

"Better peas and cabbage at home than a fat hen at war." Simple, humble food enjoyed in peace and safety at home is worth more than rich fare obtained at the …

"Better a sparrow in the fist than a pigeon on the roof." A certain, modest possession is more valuable than a larger but uncertain one. Don't risk what you …

"Better a sparrow in hand than a black grouse on a branch." A variant of the 'bird in hand' proverb. A small, certain gain is preferable to a larger but …

"Better a sparrow in hand than a falcon on a branch." Another variant of the 'bird in hand' family. The humble sparrow you hold is worth more than the …

"The devil doesn't sleep." Evil, mischief, or bad luck is always lurking and never rests. Used as a warning to stay vigilant, as trouble can strike at any …

"There are plenty of people, but a shortage of real human beings." A crowd of people does not guarantee the presence of true humanity, decency, or genuine …

"February is shod in ice." February is the coldest, most frozen month of the year. A folk observation about the harshness of mid-winter weather in Poland.

"In February, the ox will drink from the thaw." Despite February's cold, there are signs of the coming thaw — melting snow and ice give the ox water to drink. A …

"A lord's favour rides on a dappled horse." The goodwill of those in power is unreliable and changeable — it can vanish as quickly as it appeared. Don't count …

"Easy come, easy go." Things gained without effort are lost just as easily. What costs nothing is not valued and not kept.

"To fish before the net." To act prematurely, before the proper tools or conditions are in place. Equivalent to counting your chickens before they hatch, or …