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The most popular Polish proverbs

The top 3 according to 1 vote: As you make your bed, so you will sleep. · A Pole is wise after the damage is done. · Where two fight, the third one profits.. (Updated Jan 18, 2026.)

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

Aleksandra Piotrowska · · 16 items · 1 vote · 1 comment · updated Jan 18, 2026

Automatically translated (original in Polski). See the original

Top 12

  1. 1

    As you make your bed, so you will sleep.

    You live with the consequences of your choices.

    ▲ 1 ▼ 0

    1
  2. 2

    A Pole is wise after the damage is done.

    Wisdom comes only after the mistake. Wise after the event.

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    0
  3. 3

    Where two fight, the third one profits.

    A third party gains from others' quarrels.

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    0
  4. 4

    Two Poles, three opinions.

    Poles rarely agree with each other.

    ▲ 0 ▼ 0

    0
  5. 5

    A guest in the house is God in the house.

    Guests must be welcomed as well as possible.

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    0
  6. 6

    God gives to those who get up early.

    The early bird catches the worm.

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    0
  7. 7

    Better a sparrow in the hand than a pigeon on the roof.

    A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

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    0
  8. 8

    Whoever digs a pit for others falls into it himself.

    Those who scheme against others end up hurting themselves.

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    0
  9. 9

    Woman off the cart, the horses have it easier.

    If someone wants to leave, it's no loss to the rest.

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    0
  10. 10

    If the little goat hadn't jumped, it wouldn't have broken its leg.

    Recklessness ends badly.

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    0
  11. 11

    Appetite grows with eating.

    The more you have, the more you want.

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    0
  12. 12

    When the cat's away, the mice frolic.

    When the boss is away, people do as they please.

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    0

Candidates

They don't make it into the top 12… yet. Vote for them to move them up.

  1. 13

    Too much of anything is unhealthy.

    Everything in moderation.

    Added by Paweł Wójcik · ▲ 0 ▼ 0

    0
  2. 14

    Where they chop wood, chips fly.

    There are always some losses with large operations.

    Added by Paweł Wójcik · ▲ 0 ▼ 0

    0
  3. 15

    Nothing is difficult for those who want it.

    Whoever really wants it will find a way.

    Added by Paweł Wójcik · ▲ 0 ▼ 0

    0
  4. 16

    Children and fish have no voice.

    In the past, this was said to children who interfered in adult conversations.

    Added by Paweł Wójcik · ▲ 0 ▼ 0

    0

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.

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Comments (1)

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Paweł Wójcik · Polski

Brakuje: «Dla chcącego nic trudnego», «Co za dużo, to niezdrowo», «Dzieci i ryby głosu nie mają» i «Gdzie drwa rąbią, tam wióry lecą».

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