# The most popular Polish proverbs

Proverbs every Pole knows, with their meaning. Chosen from the collection of Polish proverbs on Polish Wikiquote.

- 1 vote · 16 items
- Dec 20, 2025 · Aleksandra Piotrowska
- https://even.best/en/l/1387/the-most-popular-polish-proverbs

## Top 12

1. **As you make your bed, so you will sleep.** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — You live with the consequences of your choices.
2. **A Pole is wise after the damage is done.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Wisdom comes only after the mistake. Wise after the event.
3. **Where two fight, the third one profits.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A third party gains from others' quarrels.
4. **Two Poles, three opinions.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Poles rarely agree with each other.
5. **A guest in the house is God in the house.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Guests must be welcomed as well as possible.
6. **God gives to those who get up early.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The early bird catches the worm.
7. **Better a sparrow in the hand than a pigeon on the roof.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
8. **Whoever digs a pit for others falls into it himself.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Those who scheme against others end up hurting themselves.
9. **Woman off the cart, the horses have it easier.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — If someone wants to leave, it's no loss to the rest.
10. **If the little goat hadn't jumped, it wouldn't have broken its leg.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Recklessness ends badly.
11. **Appetite grows with eating.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The more you have, the more you want.
12. **When the cat's away, the mice frolic.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — When the boss is away, people do as they please.
13. **Too much of anything is unhealthy.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Everything in moderation.
14. **Where they chop wood, chips fly.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — There are always some losses with large operations.
15. **Nothing is difficult for those who want it.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Whoever really wants it will find a way.
16. **Children and fish have no voice.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — In the past, this was said to children who interfered in adult conversations.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.