{"id":3814,"date":"2012-10-24T22:07:40","date_gmt":"2012-10-24T22:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/?p=3814"},"modified":"2012-10-24T01:06:32","modified_gmt":"2012-10-24T01:06:32","slug":"a-treasury-of-polish-aphorisms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/a-treasury-of-polish-aphorisms\/","title":{"rendered":"“A Treasury of Polish Aphorisms”"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are interested in the Polish culture, literature and want to learn Polish language in an interesting way \u00a0– \u00a0this s a great book for you! And it is bilingual!<\/p>\n

It contains the selection of 207 Polish aphorisms written by the best Polish writers, poets, journalists and even some politicians in bilingual version – in Polish original and in its English translation. It also had a variety of Polish folk proverbs – some of them unique to Polish culture, the other common in many cultures but still unique in the way how Poles express their common wisdom.<\/p>\n

The selection was arranged by Jacek Ga\u0142\u0105zka<\/strong>. The general introduction to the history of Polish language and the literature was written by prof. Jerzy Krzy\u017canowski<\/strong>, famous Polish literature expert.\u00a0Jacek Ga\u0142\u0105zka<\/strong>\u00a0wrote the introductions to the aphorisms and proverbs sections.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>According to Jacek Ga\u0142\u0105zka\u00a0– the aphorisms were chosen so that they would be easily understandable for English culture readers, the ones who depended on some Polish context or on the play of words were excluded since their meaning could be obscured. The volume of Polish aphorisms is dedicated to Stanis\u0142aw Jerzy Lec, the most famous Polish aphorism writer and poet.<\/p>\n

Jacek is an excellent translator. All his translations sound the same good or even better than the originals but convey the same message. The book is enriched by several illustrations done by Barbara\u00a0\u015awidzi\u0144ska.<\/p>\n

This is not a book which you should read from cover to cover during one day but you should read it if you have a minute of time and think over through the wisdom of these small aphorisms. It definitively helps to understand Polish culture better!<\/p>\n

Below is a short selection of aphorisms and proverbs in Polish and English – to give you a taste of a book:<\/p>\n

Niejeden bumerang nie wraca, wybiera wolno\u015b\u0107<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not every boomerang returns, some choose freedom<\/p>\n

–Stanis\u0142aw Jerzy Lec (1909-1966)<\/p>\n

R\u00f3\u017cnica mi\u0119dzy intelektualist\u0105 zachodnim i wschodnim na tym polega, \u017ce pierwszy nie dosta\u0142 dobrze w dup\u0119<\/strong><\/p>\n

The difference between western and eastern intellectuals is that the former has not been kicked in the ass enough.<\/p>\n

–Witold Gombrowicz (1904-1969)<\/p>\n

K\u0142amstwo ma kr\u00f3tkie nogi ale biegnie szybciej od prawdy<\/strong><\/p>\n

A lie has a short legs but it runs faster than the truth<\/p>\n

–Antoni Marianowicz (1924-2003)<\/p>\n

Przyja\u017a\u0144 po wyga\u015bni\u0119ciu mi<\/strong>\u0142<\/strong>o\u015bci jest jak dym po po\u017carze<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friendship after love is like smoke after fire<\/p>\n

–Magdalena Samozwaniec (1899-1972)<\/p>\n

Rodzynek – stroskane winogrono<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raisin – a worried grape<\/p>\n

–Julian Tuwim (1894-1953)<\/p>\n

Pieni\u0105dz dobry s\u0142uga lecz z\u0142y przewodnik<\/strong><\/p>\n

Money is a good servant but a poor guide<\/p>\n

–Polish folk proverb<\/p>\n

Na szyi\u00a0\u017cyrafy pch\u0142a zaczyna wierzy\u0107\u00a0w nie\u015bmiertelno\u015b\u0107<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the neck of a giraffe a flea begins to believe in immortality<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Stanis\u0142aw Jerzy Lec (1909-1966)<\/p>\n

Nie pytaj Boga o drog\u0119\u00a0do nieba bo wska\u017ce ci najtrudniejsz\u0105<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do not ask God for the way to heaven, he will show you the hardest one.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Stanis\u0142aw Jerzy Lec (1909-1966)<\/p>\n