Niech nie wie lewica, co czyni prawica
Listen
What it means
“Let the left hand not know what the right hand is doing.” Do good deeds quietly, without seeking recognition or broadcasting your generosity.
English equivalent
Let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth.
Vocabulary
- lewica — left hand (here: left side)
- prawica — right hand (here: right side)
- czynić — to do, to act
- niech — let (particle for third-person imperative)
Grammar note
'Niech nie wie' is a third-person imperative construction. 'Co czyni' is a relative clause meaning 'what it does'.
Cultural context
Rooted in the Gospel of Matthew (6:3), this proverb is widely known in Polish Catholic culture.
Intermediate
Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!
More Polish proverbs
- "A stepmother, even if made of sugar, is always bitter." No matter how kind a stepmother tries to …
- "For a wise head, two words are enough." A clever person needs only a brief hint to understand; …
- "A Pole is wise after the damage is done." Poles (or people in general) tend to learn from mistakes …
- "The wise will accept advice; the fool will scorn it." Intelligent people are open to counsel, while …