[One Sip of a Book] The Conviction of Russian Literature: "Set People's Hearts Ablaze with Verbs"

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire content of a book, while others instantly resonate with the reader, creating a connection with the book. We excerpt and introduce such meaningful sentences from books.

Illya Belyakov, originally from Russia and naturalized in Korea, introduces Russian culture through sentences from 26 representative Russian authors. From classics to contemporary literature, he selects and presents 36 representative sentences from the works of these 26 authors. Through this, readers can understand the unique Russian way of thinking that differs from ours. For example, "Anna Karenina" is often read by us as a story about the social oppression women face in a conservative society, but in Russia, it is interpreted as the judgment faced by a person who challenges society. This book provides background knowledge for a broader understanding of Russian literature.

"Anna Karenina" should be read not as a story about the vulnerable women's rights in 19th-century Russia, but as a tragedy experienced by a figure who challenged the conservative values of Russian society. It is reasonable to interpret the work as showing that attempts to escape societal pressure and pursue personal happiness are bound to fail. - Lev Tolstoy | "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." - Lev Tolstoy

The phrase "Set people's hearts on fire with verbs" represents the essence of Russian literature. This expression can also be interpreted as "Make people think through words." In Russia, there was a belief that literary works should not be written merely for the sake of writing but must contain deep meaning. Pushkin further developed this idea. Writing should make people think, stimulate them, and ignite a flame of passion within their hearts. - Aleksandr Pushkin

In Russia, receiving speeding fines is common. When that happens, Gogol is often recalled. When a speeding ticket arrives at home, the wife gets very angry, but the husband, instead of reflecting, says this and turns his wife's mood upside down: "I guess I am an inevitable Russian. What joy is there in life if I don't drive fast?" - Nikolai Gogol

Russian society is less individualistic than the West but values individual happiness more than Eastern societies. While Western culture emphasizes individual happiness exclusively and Eastern cultures emphasize the happiness of the group, Russia places importance on the happiness of the individual centered within their small communities (family, friends, workplace). - Ivan Turgenev

In Korea, age precedes relationships, but in Russia, relationships are more important than age. It is natural to use informal speech regardless of age with family or very close people. The standards of politeness differ from those in Korea. - Sergei Yesenin

The meaning of a life like a "flame" is to "be definitely different from others." Becoming like others means becoming ordinary. And becoming ordinary means decaying. - Maksim Gorky

If you think you should report a colleague's illegal act to the police, you are not Russian. Reporting a friend according to the law is equivalent to betraying that friend. If you do such an act, the whole society will criticize you. Regardless of the law, betraying a friend is unjust and deserves criticism. If you are a "person," you protect and defend your family, relatives, and friends, not the law. The law exists today but may disappear tomorrow. On the other hand, friends are an eternal blessing given by God. - The Strugatsky Brothers

Sentences of Russia | Written by Illya Belyakov | Teumsae Bookstore | 352 pages | 19,000 KRW