Ze wszystkich cnót siebie obdziera, kto swych rodziców nie wspiera
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What it means
“He strips himself of all virtues who does not support his parents.” A moral proverb stressing filial duty — failing to care for one’s parents is seen as the gravest moral failing, negating all other good qualities.
English equivalent
Honour thy father and thy mother.
Vocabulary
- cnota — virtue
- obdzierać — to strip, to rob (of something)
- wspierać — to support, to help
- rodzice — parents
Grammar note
'Ze wszystkich cnót' uses the genitive plural after 'ze'. 'Siebie obdziera' is a reflexive construction. 'Swych rodziców' is the genitive plural of 'swoi rodzice'.
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