Chekhov's sayings and aphorisms

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is a famous Russian writer, one of the most famous playwrights, popular not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders. All over the world he is recognized as a classic of literature. Chekhov's aphorisms are appreciated by all lovers of literature.

Writer's biography

Anton Chekhov was born in Taganrog in 1860. He is a doctor by education, for many years he worked by profession, combining it with literary activity. His plays have been translated into over 100 languages. For more than 100 years, many of his works have been on the stage, primarily "The Seagull", "Three Sisters" and "The Cherry Orchard".

He is also famous as a master of the short story, he wrote more than 300 works of this genre. The most famous are "Duel", "Chamber No. 6", "A Boring Story", "The Man in a Case", "Drama on the Hunt".

The uniqueness of creativity

The works of Anton Chekhov are original and unique. Their features began to appear even in the first productions. And at first, many critics considered this a drawback, an inability to cope with a consistent presentation of the plot. AlsoChekhov was reproached for using unnecessary details and details.

However, these were one of the main features of his work - a thorough description of everyday details, A. P. Chekhov's aphorisms.

The signs of Chekhov's works demonstrate a characteristic feature - the removal of events to the periphery, and everything familiar and everyday is the main part of the content.

Chekhov's aphorisms and so-called random remarks are another feature of his style. Because of them, the dialogue of the characters breaks up into many components. Because of them, it seems that the main thread of the conversation is lost.

Chekhov and humor

Contemporaries and descendants rightfully appreciate the natural wit that Chekhov was famous for. The sayings and aphorisms that belong to his pen contain many deep meanings, although at first glance they may seem superficial.

The writer's friends recall one episode that vividly illustrates Chekhov's style. Somehow, while discussing the story "The Steppe", Chekhov's attention was drawn to the fact that the following phrase occurs in the text: "She was alive until she died." Chekhov was very surprised at first, he did not believe that such a thing could actually happen. And at the first opportunity, he took out a book, found the right place and made sure that the text really was like that.

Chekhov's reaction was no less amazing than the episode itself. The author admitted that he did not finish watching, however, he was not too upset, saying that the current reader eats not like that.

About love

One of the most popular are Anton Chekhov's aphorisms about love. Much attention is paid to this topic in his works, many lovers of literature form wise thoughts from these popular expressions.

Many of them are dedicated to the uniqueness of this romantic and indescribable feeling. In particular, Chekhov's aphorisms about love claim that until a person falls in love, he believes that he knows exactly what love is.

Explores Chekhov and the problems that a person has in family life. Thus, the Russian writer considers patience to be the key to a long life together. Because love, sadly, cannot last for many years.

Chekhov writes a lot about love. Aphorisms have been around for a long time, especially this one: "No one wants to love the ordinary person in us."

About the person

In his work, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov pays great attention to human nature. Why are certain actions performed, what guides a person, making a choice in favor of this or that decision?

For example, the famous playwright claims that a person is first of all what he believes in.

Thinking about the meaning of life, Chekhov's aphorisms state that the vocation of a person in the modern world is to search for truth, which is to discover the truth and the true meaning of life.

About women

Chekhov not only loved women, he idolized them. In 1901 he designedmarriage with his muse, in the future People's Artist of the USSR Olga Knipper, who later became Knipper-Chekhova. At that moment she was 33 years old, and Anton Pavlovich himself was 41. The age difference was quite small, the only thing that is sad in this story is the imminent death of the writer. Having lived only 3 years after the wedding, Anton Chekhov died in 1904.

About women, Chekhov wrote that without male society they fade, while men, left without the beautiful half of humanity, inevitably become stupid.

In turn, Chekhov debunks the popular myth that a woman can be a man's friend. The writer claims that this is possible only in one single case: if a woman was first a friend, then a lover - and only after that she can become a friend.

There are also Chekhov's rather frivolous aphorisms. For example, he claims that going to Paris with his wife is the same as showing up in Tula with his own samovar, that is, an absolutely meaningless and unnecessary occupation.

Especially known are Chekhov's absurd statements, aphorisms in which he states seemingly mutually exclusive things. However, upon close examination, they no longer seem so ridiculous and are only remembered faster. For example, Chekhov categorically advises no one to marry if he is afraid of loneliness, as in this case it is inevitable.

Chekhov is extremely negative about betrayal, especially female. He compares the changed representative of the beautiful half of humanity with a cutlet, to which no one wantstouch because someone else has already touched her.

But still, most of his statements and aphorisms are very optimistic. The greatest happiness, according to the Russian playwright, is to love and be loved.

About creativity

Knowing about creativity from the inside, a large number of popular expressions were dedicated to him by Chekhov. Aphorisms about literature are different, but the most famous is "Brevity is the sister of talent."

Also, Chekhov claimed that becoming a writer is not at all difficult. But at the same time, he draws analogies between the writer and the freak. After all, anyone will find a mate, and any, even the most utter nonsense, will have its reader.

At the same time, to become a real reader, one cannot do without hard work - says Chekhov. The writer's life schedule should be such that work is a vital necessity for him. Without this, it is impossible to imagine a joyful and pure life.

In the writer's share, ironically, Chekhov considered writing stories to be the most important. And he called those who are not able to do this, mediocrity. But at the same time, mediocrity, according to the Russian classics, were those who successfully write stories, but do not know how to hide it from others.

About life

Chekhov paid great attention to various aspects of life. His aphorisms on this topic are extremely accurate and successful.

So, he was very skeptical about people who could speak well and intelligently. Noting that this is often not an indicator of the true mind, when you understand with a sixth sense thatin reality, they are very stupid and narrow-minded people who only hide their true colors behind a beautiful wrapper.

"Life is a moment," writes Chekhov. The aphorisms and quotes of the writer, according to his precepts, are concise and simple. He adds that this moment must be appreciated, because you cannot live on a draft - you will never be able to rewrite everything cleanly. Mistakes cannot be corrected, actions cannot be replayed, glory cannot be taken back, insults cannot be forgotten.

Another famous saying of the writer: "It's good where we are not." True, few people know that the aphorism does not end there, Anton Pavlovich adds, as if once again explaining his thought: we are no longer in the past, and that is why it seems so beautiful to us. Although the present and the future will not be radically different if we change the places for life, and not the approach to it.

On education and family

Chekhov is very critical of higher education. In particular, he writes that the university, of course, develops many abilities in a young person, but one of them is stupidity. And you can't do without it.

With great warmth, the classic refers to kind people. Noting their character, he claims that such people will be ashamed of such actions even in front of a dog, although in fact they will not be guilty.

Some of Chekhov's aphorisms are akin to good manners, which must be followed at a party and in any decent society. For example, how does good parenting manifest itself during lunch? Not that a person will eat carefully and not spill the sauceon the tablecloth. Such an unpleasant accident can happen to anyone, even the most well-mannered gentleman. True parenting is shown when a person will not pay the slightest attention if someone else does it.

One of the most important qualities in a person Chekhov considers politeness. Noting that she, like no other human quality, is very cheap, but at the same time very much appreciated.

Chekhov has his own, somewhat domostroev views on family life. He believes that a woman needs to be educated so that she is aware of her mistakes and repents of them. Otherwise, she will assume, and erroneously, that she is always right.

Quotes, Chekhov's aphorisms were loved by contemporaries, they are popular now. The writer also speaks ironically to lovers of strong drinks, noting that although vodka is white, it paints the nose and blackens the drinker's reputation.

About Russia

Chekhov describes in detail the features of the soul of a Russian person. In his opinion, our person is necessarily distinguished by an irresistible craving to spend even the last money on sometimes unnecessary entertainment and frills. And this at a time when his basic needs are not satisfied! And this is one of the biggest problems.

Sometimes a classic even speaks very sharply. He calls a Russian person a "big pig". All due to the fact that he can explain why there is no fish or meat on the dinner table by the fact that they are difficult to deliver. But at the same time, not a single feast is complete without vodka, no matter in what wilderness a Russian person lives.

He alsonotes the predilection of a Russian person for unjustified actions. How, for example, to cross a river on ice at the very moment when the ice is cracking on it and not today - an icebreaker will start tomorrow.

The main problem of a Russian person, according to the writer, is that he simply lacks the desire to live.

About officials

Officers are found in many of Chekhov's works, especially satirical ones. Russian writers have always liked to ridicule their narrow-mindedness, love of money and ability to drag out the most trifling business.

Chekhov even compares officials with toadstools, arguing that both breed in the same way - by division.

With disgust, the writer writes about bureaucratic language, criticizing the unnecessary use of a large number of turns and unnecessary complications. You can only read this while spitting, he says.

About humor

No truly educated person can do without humor. That is why the seriousness of someone who has a sense of humor is several times more serious and attractive than the usual seriousness of an ordinary serious person who does not have this quality.

But not everything can and should be laughed at. Chekhov notes that in society there is a special breed of people who simply take pleasure in making fun of everything around - every manifestation of life, everything that comes in their way. Usually such people flirt and stop distinguishing really funny things from those that are simply not worth joking over. So they can ridicule a beggar, a hungry woman,a young man trying to commit suicide, or someone's death. In this case, Chekhov argues, this is no longer humor, but one exceptional vulgarity.

At the same time, the writer sympathizes with those who do not understand jokes and do not have a sense of humor. In this case, this is really an unintelligent person, since only humor can serve as a valid measure of intelligence.