Prutkov Kozma
Kozma Prutkov — a collective pseudonym for the group of Russian writers — Alexey Tolstoy and Zhemchuzhnikov brothers, who performed jointly in 50—60s of the 19th century.
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Contents of Prutkov Kozma:
A champagne cork that pops up with so much noise and falls down just as instantly — that is a fair picture of love.
A philosopher would easily triumph over the future and past sorrows, but he is just as easily defeated by the present ones.
But, on the other hand, the Sun is better in that it shines and also warms, whereas the Moon only shines; and that only on moonlit evenings!
Every person's head is like a stomach: some digest the food, and some only get constipated.
Everybody says that health is more valuable than any other thing, but nobody keeps to it.
For many, the moments of meeting and separation are the greatest moments in their life.
Gold lovers! How miserable must be all of your gains if they, taken together, aren't even worth a single leaf from the laurel wreath of a poet!
I will always compare the sky decorated with stars to the chest of a distinguished general.
If all the past were present, and the present existed along with the future, who would be able to distinguish, where are the causes and where are the consequences?
If ever asked: What's more useful, the sun or the moon, respond: The new moon. For the sun only shines during daytime, when it's light anuway, whereas the Moon shines at night.
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.
If upon a cage of an elephant you will see a sign reading: "buffalo", do not believe your eyes.
It has been well established that the earth which strikesus with its diversity and magnitude would merely look as a smooth and meager ball to some observer from the sun.
Live and learn! — and eventually you will become able to say, following the wise, that you do not know anything.
Looking into the distance, you will see the distance; looking to the sky, you will see the sky; looking in a small mirror, you will only see yourself.
Many things are incomprehensible to us not because our comprehension is weak, but because those things are not within the frames of our comprehension.
Never fail to observe that it is much easier to leave many people dissatisfied than please them.
Never run to the extreme: who wants to dine too late today takes chances to instead breakfast tomorrow, early in the morning.
Only reason on what your notions allow you to discuss. Thus, knowing nothing about the laws of the Iroquois language, can you pass a judgement on it that would not be ill-founded and stupid?
People correspond with all the world, and, via the press, with their distant descendants.
People's memory is like a piece of white paper: sometimes it writes well, and sometimes bad.
Sometimes, words typed in italics are much more unjust than those typed in regular print.
The lowliest of beggars is capable of being the foremost rich man, under different circumstances.
The reason death is put at the end of life is so we could prepare for it more comfortably.
There are three things that once begun are difficult to finish: a) eating delicious food; b) talking to a friend who had just returned from a long journey; and c) scratching where it itches.
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.
Things can be great or minor not only by fate's will, or contingency, but also by every person's notions.
Throwing pebbles into the water, look at the ripples they form on the surface, otherwise, such occupation becomes an idle pastime.
Virtue is an award for itself. A man excels the virtue, if he serves never receiving an award.
When looking at the sun, squint your eyes — and you'll readily discern the spots upon it.