Złemu wrogowi daj chleba i soli
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What it means
“Give bread and salt even to a bad enemy.” Counsel to treat even enemies with basic human dignity — or a warning that keeping an enemy fed and close is wiser than provoking them further.
English equivalent
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Vocabulary
- zły — bad, wicked
- wróg — enemy
- chleb — bread
- sól — salt
Grammar note
'Złemu wrogowi' is the dative singular — 'dać' (to give) takes the dative for the recipient. 'Chleba i soli' are genitive after 'daj' in this partitive sense.
Cultural context
Bread and salt are traditional symbols of hospitality in Polish culture, offered to guests as a welcome gesture.
Intermediate
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