Marność nad marnościami i wszystko marność
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What it means
“Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.” Everything in the world passes and may seem without lasting value. It can express resignation, distance from worldly concerns, or the sense that effort is pointless.
English equivalent
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
Vocabulary
- marność — vanity, futility, emptiness
- wszystko — everything, all
Grammar note
'Marność nad marnościami' uses the instrumental plural after 'nad'. Repetition makes a strong superlative, following a Hebrew pattern from the Bible.
Cultural context
This is a direct quote from Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 1:2. It is well established in Polish religious and literary language.
Intermediate
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