Recently, you could also hear the no-negation version of the proverb, saying: ‘’My circus, my monkeys’’, meaning that you are the only one who has to worry about it, or that you should take the responsibility for certain actions. Other Famous Polish Proverbs The origins of this adage can be found in an ancient Buddhist parable that recounts a teacher telling three student monkeys not to see, hear, or speak evil. Try as they might, the monkies fail to follow the strict advice. The moral of the tale is to make people aware of their surroundings and to refrain from turning a blind eye to bad things. You can apply the saying “ not my circus, not my monkeys” in many everyday scenarios like those below. Imagine you are having dinner with your close, Polish friend. He goes on and on how his brother’s family is behaving not up to his standards, how his niece has decided to quit school and maybe how his nephew is not earning enough money and how all that doesn’t seem to worry his brother at all. He could conclude this talk with a ‘’Oh well, but it’s not my circus and not my monkeys’’ proverb. Or imagine that you were gossiping about a colleague at work, how she is leading her team wrongly. This too could be concluded with ‘’Oh well, it’s not my circus.’’ - as you can cut the proverb short and still it would be recognized among the Polish speakers. You could also stop the gossiping that someone else has started by saying: ‘’Oh, not my circus, I don’t want to know about it.’’

In short, it could be translated as having the same meaning of “I mind my own business” or ‘’it’s none of my business’’, but in a broader sense, it’s usually used to enhance the fact that you are not the one to judge someone else’s actions, even when you don’t necessarily agree with them. As if the mess someone else has found himself in, is not your mess to worry about, and the people taking part in that mess are not the ones you can control. Not My Circus Not My Monkeys Origin

Other Famous Polish Proverbs 

Overall, the phrase “not my circus, not my monkeys” is useful when expressing that someone does not want to be responsible for something or wants no involvement in a situation. What Is a Useful Way To Illustrate the Phrase –‘Not My Circus?’ This translates nicely to the English equivalent of ‘’Where there is smoke, there is fire.’’ Or that nothing happens on its own.

A famous idiom that originated in Japan and became popular during the 17th century in a Shinto pictorial format also involved monkeys. Rather than referencing them directly, three monkeys were depicted in various forms of art, with one covering his eyes, one his ears, and one his mouth. The age-old adage that accompanied it was “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” Ourground-breaking recycled t-shirts are made from 100% recycled materials and are, to our knowledge, the first commercially produced t-shirts made from recycled cotton. The fabrics are produced in India from 60% recycled organic cotton and 40% recycled polyester. The cotton waste from normal production is saved ("salvaged") and shredded until broken into individual fibres. These are then blended with locally recycled polyester and spun into yarn. The knitting, dying and manufacturing are carried out in established facilities in Tamil Nadu, renowned for high ethical labour standards and low environmental impact. These products are certified under the Global Recycle Standard (GRS) and the Organic Content Standard (OCS), and carry the appropriate certification marks, licensed by the Control Union Some believe that Poland is the source of this catchy phrase. The saying is supposedly from a Polish proverb that goes, “Nie moje krowy, nie moje konie,” which translates to “It’s not my cows, it’s not my horses.” People initially used this proverb to describe themselves as not being responsible for caring for animals on their property. However, over time people started using the phrase to distance themselves from situations they deemed out of their control. Also, people use this phrase to dismiss someone’s concerns. For example, suppose someone is talking to you about a problem they are having. In that case, you might say “not my circus, not my monkeys” to show that you have no interest in their issue. When it comes to the saying “not my circus, not my monkeys,” there are pros and cons to consider. On the one hand, this approach is seen as avoiding involvement in things that are not your own and that you cannot control. But on the other hand, this avoidance can be helpful in terms of maintaining peace of mind and avoiding stress.One example of how to use this phrase is when someone discusses a problem they are having with someone else. In this scenario, the person might say, “I don’t know what to do. It’s not my circus, not my monkeys,” to express that they are not responsible for the problem and that it is not their duty or responsibility to fix an issue. The Polish proverb ‘’ Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy translates to "Not my circus, not my monkeys ’ ’,it is difficult to find its English equivalent. One situation that I remember is when I worked at a busy Italian restaurant. One of the cooks got into an argument with the dishwasher, which turned into a full-blown shouting match. It was honestly entertaining to watch, but I had to keep my head down and focus on my work. I didn’t want the aftereffects of involving myself in their drama at the time.

Another similar take on this phrase is “nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy” in Polish, which literally translates to “not my circus, not my monkeys.” It has a specific meaning and a slightly different emphasis than what is commonly known. People use it to express frustration when someone does not take advice or when their attempt to remedy a problem fails. Essentially, it means “not my problem” with a hint of, “I told you so.” Examples of Everyday UseHe replied, “Yeah! So, you know exactly how much this matters to me right now!” What Are the Possible Pros and Cons? At RedMolotov.com we specialise in producing high-quality, ethically-sourced t-shirts. We pride ourselves in using the best materials we can find, which is why our t-shirts will not fall out of shape after a few washes like other cheaper varieties you may find for sale elsewhere. It’s better to hold a sparrow in the hand than to have a pigeon on the roof.’’ This would mean that it’s better to hold on to something safe (something you can obtain easily), than just to wish for something uncertain.

I told her I was deeply sorry and that this was unacceptable from a veteran server like me. I demanded she take whatever amount the transgression merited out of my tip.”On the other hand, by not getting involved in situations that do not concern you, you can miss out on valuable opportunities to help others or make a difference in the world. You may also feel isolated or left out if you do not become involved in certain situations. In the end, it is up to everyone to decide whether this approach is right for them. Pros