SATIRE IS THE BEST CURE FROM A BLIND FOLLY. BE MERCIFUL FOR THE SUBJECT, YET.
The most spoken examples of bold satire one can find here in Russia land. Feel free to borrow as much satire as you please.
About this capture
Kozma Prutkov
One cannot imagine the Russian language without the numerous semantic links induced by the literary heritage of this wonderful person, who had never existed in flesh and blood. Unfortunately, very few English speakers know about this brilliant character - and this page is to give a scent of true Russian spirit to the audience throughout the world. Of course, I could not make it any comprehensive - and my literary gift is not enough to translate the ubiquitous play on words in Kozma Prutkov's poetry, theater plays, memoirs and other writings. Maybe somebody more talented than me will take that challenge. Meanwhile, here is just a few glimpses of wit and humor.
Fruits of Reflection (1853-1854)
3
Nobody will embrace the unembraceable.
4
There is no great thing that would not be surmounted by a still greater thing. There is no thing so small that no smaller thing could fit into it.
5
Look in the root!
6
Better say little, but well.
8
What other people can say about you if you can't say anything about yourself?
10
People's memory is like a piece of white paper: sometimes it writes well, and sometimes bad.
15
Passionately loving one lady, he tolerates another only of convenience.
19
Hiding truth from the friends, whom will you trust?
20
What is the best? - Having compared the past, link it to the present.
21
It's more useful to make way through one's life, rather than the Universe.
22
If you have a fountain, shut it up. Let even a fountain have a rest.
25
An egoist is like someone sitting in a well since long ago.
26
Genius is like a hill rising amidst a plain.
27
Wise words are like the lines printed in italics.
29
If shadows of objects depended not on the sizes of such but had their own random height, then perhaps, soon there would not be a sunny spot left on Earth.
33
The first step of a baby is the first step to his death.
34
The reason death is put at the end of life is so we could prepare for it more comfortably.
36
Never run to the extreme: who wants to dine too late today takes chances to instead breakfast tomorrow, early in the morning.
40
Explanatory sentences clarify obscure thoughts.
42
Watch out!
44
Nobody will embrace the unembraceable.
45
There are three things that once begun are difficult to finish: a) eating delicious food; b) talking to a good friend; and c) scratching the spot that itches.
AND MUCH MORE HEREIN (.......)
