Do We Ever Get What We Really

As It Is So Strangely Ordained In This World, What Is Amusing Will Turn Into Being Gloomy, If You Stand Too Long Before It, And Then God Knows What Ideas May Not Stray Into The Mind... Why Is It That Even In Moments Of Unthinking, Careless Gaiety A Different And Strange Mood Comes Upon One?

In The Course Of Reading He [alexander Pushkin] Became More And More Melancholy And Finally Became Completely Gloomy. When The Reading Was Over He Uttered In A Voice Full Of Sorrow: "goodness, How Sad Is Our Russia!"

[f]or Contemporary Judgment Does Not Recognize That Much Depth Of Soul Is Needed To Light Up The Picture Drawn From Contemptible Life And Elevate It Into A Pearl Of Creation.

Go Along, Go Along Quickly, And Set All You Have On The Table For Us. We Don't Want Doughnuts, Honey Buns, Poppy Cakes, And Other Dainties; Bring Us A Whole Sheep, Serve A Goat And Forty-year Old Mead! And Plenty Of Vodka, Not Vodka With All Sorts Of Fancies, Not With Raisins And Flavorings, But Pure Foaming Vodka, That Hisses And Bubbles Like Mad.

Nothing Could Be More Pleasant Than To Live In Solitude, Enjoy The Spectacle Of Nature, And Occasionally Read Some Book.