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[babblingbrooke2.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know any really inspirational or famous cynical Russian quotes?

.... please add translation for the amatuer Russian student...
♥ Brooke

Comments

[lexabear.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you'd consider this either inspirational or really cynical, but I've always liked the ending of Lermontov's "Парус" ("The Sail"):

А он, мятежный, просит бури,
Как будто в бурях есть покой!

But he, rebellious, begs for storms,
As if there is peace to be had in storms!

(full poem here) (http://lermontov-myu.bookru.net/lit/lermonto/1.html)

[ducking.livejournal.com]

Probably, the most famous quotes from Russian literature (that doesn't include poetry, of course, as an average Russian's brain is loaded with tons of poetic verses no one has any use for whatsoever) come from the genius of mock-philosopher Козьма Прутков (that's an alias for a group of talented authors). It's, like, our own Wilde - full of irony. Humorous, yet bittersweet (sort of).

Sample:
"Зри в корень".
(that's a tough of one to translate...ehhh...anyone?)

Also you'd have to look up Ilf & Petrov's famous dilogy. Many phrases deeply implanted in the public memory come from those books.

[gera.livejournal.com]

"Зри в корень".
(that's a tough of one to translate...ehhh...anyone?)

Dig deep.

(Literally "Look into the root").

[chacky.livejournal.com]

Кто с мечём к нам придёт, от меча и погибнет. Alexandr Nevsky said.

Who will come to us with sword, he will die from this sword.

[shellesie.livejournal.com]

not мечём but мечом

[zombie-laika.livejournal.com]

I like that one. Спасибо!

[staring-frog.livejournal.com]

This one is not Russian.
It is from the Bible. Paul something...

[hound-lancer.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for some realy cynical bits, try Igor Irteniev's poetry. He's one of the acknowledged modern Russian poets writing bitter and humorous verse. It requires some knowledge of Russian history and literature to fully appreciate his allusions, but even without one you will enjoy his witty comments to everyday life.
http://irteniev.msk.ru.mastertest.ru/index.php3
Here's one short poem just to give you a hint:
* * *

Уронил я в унитаз
Как-то тут намедни
Свой любимый карий глаз.
Правый. Предпоследний.

Глянул он прощальным взором,
Голубиным оком
Прямо в душу мне с укором,
Уносясь потоком.

И с тех пор все снится мне
Ночью в тишине,
Как он там ресницами
Шевелит на дне.

1991

[yk4ever.livejournal.com]

There's some all-time popular proverbs and sayings. Surely the quintessence of cynism - and wisdom too. I can remember some:

В России две беды: дураки и дороги.
There's two kind of troubles in Russia: fools and roads.

Два вечных вопроса: Кто виноват и что делать?
Two eternal questions: Who's guilty and what to do [now]?
(modern edition:
Кто виноват? Что делать? Где деньги?
Who's guilty? What to do? And where's the money? )

Заставь дурака богу молиться - лоб расшибёт.
Make a fool pray God [and bow] - he'll break his forehead.

Пока толстый сохнет, худой сдохнет.
While fat one's dries up (thins down), thin one dies [of starving].

Не пеняй на зеркало, коли рожа крива.
Dont blame the mirror if [your] face is ugly.

Кому война - а кому мать родна.
For some it's a war - for some it's a sweet mother. (about maradeurs, vultures etc)

Работа не волк, в лес не убежит.
The work isn't a [trapped] wolf, it won't escape to forest [and therefore can wait].

Of course, on topic of drinking:

Пошлёшь дурака за бутылкой - он одну и принесёт.
Send a fool to bring a bottle - and he'll bring only one!

Сколько водки не бери, всё равно ещё раз бегать.
No matter how much vodka you have [for party], eventually you'll need to run [to shop] for more.

Classics:

И дым отечества нам сладок и приятен. (by Грибоедов, i believe)
And smoke of [burning] motherlang is sweet and pleasing to us.

[o-goncho.livejournal.com]

"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." Matthew 26:52 NIV

It is written in other gospels as well, I think.

[blinkenlight.livejournal.com]

И дым отечества нам сладок и приятен. (by Грибоедов, i believe)
And smoke of [burning] motherlang is sweet and pleasing to us.

But he didn't mean it! It's a perfect example of commonly misunderstood quote.
http://www.hrono.ru/text/2005/staro0105.html

Griboedov quoted Derzhavin, which in turn quoted Homer and latin proverb «Et fumus patriae dulci» - "even a smoke from the motherland is sweet". Smoke from stoves, of course, and not from burning buildings.

But now this sentence is often quoted in cynical sense.