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  What it means

  “A peasant who must, will do it gladly.” When there is no choice, people find a way to be content with what they have to do. Necessity breeds willingness.

  English equivalent

  Needs must when the devil drives.

  Vocabulary

  • chłop — peasant, man
  • musieć — to have to, must
  • rad — gladly, willingly (archaic adjective used adverbially)
  • uczynić — to do, to accomplish

  Grammar note

  'Co musi' is a relative clause: 'who must'. 'Rad uczyni' — 'rad' is an archaic short-form adjective meaning 'glad', used predicatively.

  Cultural context

  The proverb captures the stoic pragmatism of Polish peasant culture: if you cannot avoid a task, embrace it.

  Intermediate

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