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  What it means

  “No one can serve two masters.” You cannot be fully loyal to two competing authorities or interests at the same time.

  English equivalent

  No man can serve two masters.

  Vocabulary

  • nikt — nobody, no one
  • móc — to be able to, can
  • pan — master, lord, sir
  • służyć — to serve

  Grammar note

  'Dwom panom' is the dative plural of 'pan', used after 'służyć' (to serve someone ; dative). 'Nie może' negates the modal verb.

  Cultural context

  From the Gospel of Matthew (6:24). A cornerstone of Polish religious and moral tradition.

  Intermediate

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