Nie samym chlebem człowiek żyje
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What it means
“Man does not live by bread alone.” People need more than material sustenance ; spiritual, intellectual, and emotional nourishment are equally essential.
English equivalent
Man does not live by bread alone.
Vocabulary
- sam — alone, only, by itself
- chleb — bread
- żyć — to live
Grammar note
'Samym chlebem' is the instrumental case ; 'by bread alone'. The instrumental is used here to express means or manner.
Cultural context
Derived from the Bible (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4), this proverb is widely known in Poland due to the country's strong Catholic tradition.
Beginner
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