Stanislaw J. Lec

Stanisław Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) was a Polish poet, satirist, and aphorist, widely known for his sharp, paradoxical observations on society, politics, and human nature. He is best remembered for *Myśli nieuczesane* (*Unkempt Thoughts*), a celebrated collection of aphorisms that combines wit with philosophical and moral reflection. Lec’s writing is marked by concise language, irony, and a skeptical intelligence that challenges clichés and exposes abuses of power. His aphorisms have been frequently quoted and translated, securing his reputation as one of Poland’s most distinctive twentieth-century masters of the short form.