Some argued that education not only develops, but also creates the character of a person, along with a special mind and talents; that under other circumstances Alexander the Great would have become a peace-loving Brahmin, Euclid a sensitive novelist, Attila a gentle shepherd boy, and Peter the Great ordinary person! No! One nature creates and gives; education only forms.
Indifferent people are more prudent in everything, they cause less trouble and less often upset the harmony of society; but only the sensitive make great sacrifices to virtue, surprise the world with great deeds. Only they shine with talents of imagination and creative mind: poetry and eloquence - their talent. Cold people can only be mathematicians, geographers, naturalists, antiquarians and - if you like - philosophers!
Here is the story of two people, which in their faces represents these two characters. Erast and Leonid studied at the same boarding school and became friends early. In the first, a rare sensitivity was found from infancy; the second seemed to have been born prudent. Erast, from excessive self-confidence, put off every business until the last minute, sometimes he did not learn a lesson; Leonid always knew him in advance.
Their mutual friendship was surprising: they were so dissimilar in character! But their friendship was based on the very difference of properties. Erast needed prudence, Leonid needed liveliness of thoughts. Erast, as a child, was captivated by novels, poetry, and in history he most of all loved examples of heroism and generosity. Leonid did not understand how one could deal with fables, that is, novels! Poetry seemed to him a useless game of the mind. He read history with great diligence, but like grammar, only to know it. Erast believed in everything extraordinary in history; Leonid doubted everything that was not in accordance with the ordinary order of things.
And the actions of friends were different. One night the house where they studied and lived caught fire. Erast jumped out of bed undressed, woke Leonid and the others, put out the fire, saved his professor's precious things and did not think about his own. The house burned down, and Erast, hugging his friend, said: “I have lost everything; but in common calamities it is good to forget oneself ... "-" It is very bad, - objected Leonid, - a person is created to think first about himself, then about others. I corrected your recklessness and saved our chests and our books. So Leonid acted and thought in the sixteenth year of his life.
Another time they were walking along the bank of the river, in front of their eyes a boy fell from the bridge. Erast gasped and rushed into the water. Leonid did not lose his head, ran to the fishermen not far away, threw them a ruble, and five minutes later they pulled out the drowning Erast and the boy.
After graduating from boarding school, they went to the army. Erast kept repeating: "We must seek glory"; Leonid said: "Duty orders to serve a nobleman! ..". The first rushed into danger, the other went wherever they sent him. Erast was soon captured from excessive passion; Leonid deserved the name of a prudent officer and the cross of George.
After the war, both switched to civil service. Leonid took a difficult and invisible place; Erast entered the office of the noblest nobleman, hoping to earn his attention with his talents and play a great role in the state. But for the success of ambition, flexibility, constancy, coldness, and patience are needed. Erast was not afraid to object to the minister, he was only afraid to humiliate himself before him. Leonid instructed him: "No talents will elevate a person without pleasing people."
Soon, Erast began to get bored with tedious activities. He was young, handsome, smart and rich. Women loved him, men envied him. He did not devote his evenings to work, finding that the smile of a lovely woman was more pleasant than the minister's approval. He became careless, although he promised himself to improve. The minister lost patience and parted with Erast.
Erast indulged in a tender passion ... Brilliant young people often enter into relationships with windy women: they save them from difficult searches.
Erast got married. Nina, his wife, was sweet and beautiful, but the thought that his fate was decided forever embarrassed Erast. Leonid visited a friend. However, after living a little, he suddenly left. Erast was amazed and hurried to his wife. Nina, shedding tears, wrote and wanted to hide the papers. Erast tore out the letter. It was revealed that Nina adored Leonid, but he did not want to betray his friendship. Nina conjured him to return or threatened to poison herself with poison ... Seeing the repentance of his wife, Erast forgave her; but not all acquaintances, like Leonid, fled from Nina's charms. Erast divorced.
Erast decided to be an author. A sensitive heart is a rich source of ideas, and Erast recognized glory. But glory is good for the light, not for those who receive it. Soon vipers of envy hissed: strangers turned pale and suffered from his authorial successes. Leonid reassured his friend, and at the end of the letter he added that he was getting married soon: “A woman is needed for order in the house.” Erast hurried to a friend's wedding. They haven't seen each other for a long time. Leonid, despite diligence business man blossomed with health; Erast, once a beautiful young man, was pale and withered like a skeleton.
Erast lived in a friend's house, he liked to sit by the fireplace and read Calliste French novels. Sometimes they cried together like children, and soon their souls got used to miraculously. But cold people are not blind, and one morning, taking his wife, Leonid left with her, writing that he was entrusted with an important task a thousand miles away.
Erast went to travel, but nothing interested him anymore. Returning to the fatherland, he wrote to a friend. Leonid, already noble person in the state, rejoiced at him sincerely and introduced his second wife. Callista was no longer in the world. Erast found out that she loved him passionately. Now he went every day to pour tears over her grave.
He soon fell ill, but still managed to give half of his fortune to Nina, knowing that she was in need. He died in her arms. Leonid did not go to the patient: the doctors declared the disease "contagious". He was not even at the burial, saying: "The soulless corpse is not my friend! ..".
Leonid lived to a ripe old age, enjoying nobility, wealth, health and tranquility. He lost his wife and children, but, believing that grief was useless, he tried to forget them. If we believed in the transmigration of souls, we would conclude that his soul suffered already in its primitive state and sought to rest in the form of Leonidas. He died without hope and fear, as he usually fell asleep every evening.
“...One nature creates and gives: upbringing only forms. Nature alone sows: art or instruction only waters the seed so that it blossoms better and more perfectly. Both the mind and the character of people are her business: father, teacher, circumstances can help him further developments, but not more. Does nature bind mental capacity and moral properties to some particular forms or actions physical composition, we do not know: this is her secret ... "
* * *
The following excerpt from the book Sensitive and cold (N. M. Karamzin, 1803) provided by our book partner - the company LitRes.
The spirit of the system forced reasonable people to assert many oddities and even absurdities: thus, some wrote and proved that our natural abilities and properties are the same; that the circumstances and incidents of education not only form or develop, but also give character to a person, along with a special mind and talents; that Alexander in other circumstances might have been a peace-loving brahmin, Euclid an author of sensitive novels, Attila a gentle shepherd boy, and Peter the Great an ordinary man! If it were necessary to refute an obvious lie, then we would present here a lot of well-educated, a lot of learned people who have everything except - feelings and reason ... No! One nature creates and gives: upbringing only forms. Nature alone sows: art or instruction only waters the seed so that it blossoms better and more perfectly. Both the mind and the character of people are her business: father, teacher, circumstances can help his further development, but no more. - Whether nature binds mental faculties and moral qualities to some special forms or actions of the physical composition, we do not know: this is its secret. The system of Lavater and Dr. Gal seems to us to this day a mere figment of the imagination. The venerable and prudent Cabanis himself, explaining the happiness and unhappiness of life - temperament, passions, sadness and fun - by the properties of solid parts and liquids, does not undertake to measure and hang out in a pharmacy way, how much is needed for the work of a genius, mathematician, philosopher, poet, villain or virtuous husband.
Be that as it may, we see in the light of people smart and sensitive, smart and cold, from cradle to grave, according to the Russian proverb; and their moral property is so independent of the will that all convictions of the mind, all firm intentions to change their temper remain without action. La Fontaine said:
We are eternally what we are destined to be in the world.
Drive nature through the door: it will fly in through the window!
It is true that only sensitive people know this bondage; the cold ones are always pleased with themselves and do not want to change. Does not one such remark prove that profit and happiness are on the side of the latter? The former, no doubt, enjoy more lively; but as in life there are more sorrows than pleasures, then the weaker feeling of both is a gain. “The gods do not give, but sell us pleasures,” said the Greek tragedian; “And too expensive,” one might say, so that we remain fools with the purchase. But the sensitive is a natural wast: he sees his ruin, fights with himself and buys everything.
However, loving justice, let us also note its inherent advantages. Indifferent people are more prudent in everything, live more peacefully in the world, do less trouble and less often upset the harmony of society; but some sensitive people make great sacrifices to virtue, surprise the world with great deeds, for which, according to Montagne, you always need “a small admixture of recklessness” - “un peu de folie”, they shine with the talents of imagination and creative mind: poetry and eloquence are talents their. Cold people can only be mathematicians, geographers, naturalists, antiquarians and - if you like - philosophers! ..
We had the opportunity to learn the history of two people, which represents these two characters in their faces.
Erast and Leonid studied at the same boarding school and became friends early. The first could be called handsome: the second attracted the attention of people perfectly smart face. In the first, from infancy, a rare sensitivity was revealed: the second seemed to be born prudent. Erast surprised with his concept, Leonid with diligence. It seemed that the first one was not learning, but only remembering the old; the second never forgot what he once learned. The first, from excessive self-reliance, putting off every matter until the last minute, sometimes did not learn a lesson; the second always knew him beforehand, kept repeating and did not believe his memory. Erast sometimes did little pranks, quarreled with his comrades and often deserved punishment; but everyone loved him. Leonid behaved quietly, approximately and did not offend anyone; but he was only praised. One was considered sincere, good-natured: such was he in fact. The other was suspected of cunning and even of craftiness: but he was only cautious. - Their mutual friendship seemed wonderful: they were so dissimilar in character! But this friendship was based on the very difference of properties. Erast had a need for prudence, Leonid - for liveliness of thoughts, which for his soul had beauty of the amazing The sensitivity of one demanded a message; the indifference and coldness of the other looked for employment. When the heart and imagination are on fire in a man, he loves to talk; when the soul is without action, he listens with pleasure. Erast, as a child, was captivated by novels, poetry, and in history, most of all he loved extraordinary things, examples of heroism and generosity. Leonid did not understand how one could deal with fables, that is, novels! Poetry seemed to him a difficult and useless game of the mind, and poets - people who want to run fast in shackles. He read history with great diligence, but only in order to know it, not for inner enjoyment, but as vocabularies or grammar. Is it any wonder that the opinions of friends about her heroes did not agree? Erast praised Alexander's generosity and courage to the skies: Leonid called him a brave madman. The first said: "He conquered the universe!" The second answered: “Not knowing why!” Erast adored Cato, the virtuous suicide: Leonidas considered him a lunatic arrogant. Erast admired the turbulent times of Greek and Roman freedom: Leonid thought that freedom is evil when it does not allow people to live in peace. Erast believed in everything extraordinary in history: Leonid doubted everything that was not in accordance with the ordinary order of things. One was asked with an ardent imagination, and the other with a phlegmatic character.
Both the opinions and the actions of our friends were different. Once the house where they studied and lived caught fire at night: Erast jumped out of bed undressed, woke up Leonid and other boarders, put out the fire, saved his professor's precious things and did not think about his own. The house burned down, and Erast, hugging his friend, said with a generous feeling: “I have lost everything; but in common disasters it’s good to forget oneself ... ”-“ It’s very bad, ”Leonid answered with composure,“ a person is created to think first about himself, and then about others; otherwise the light cannot stand. It's good that I managed to correct your recklessness: I saved both our chests and our books. So Leonid thought and acted in the sixteenth year of his life. - Another time they were walking along the river bank: in their eyes the boy fell from the bridge. Erast gasped and rushed into the water. Leonid wanted to keep him, but did not have time; however, he didn’t lose his head, didn’t even scream, but only with all his might started running to the fishermen, who were spreading their nets in the distance, threw them a ruble and ordered them to save Erast, who was already drowning. The fishermen pulled him out with the boy five minutes later. Leonid scolded his friend: he called him a fool, insane; however, he was crying... The rare sensitivity of cold people is all the more noticeable and touching. Erast kissed him and exclaimed: “I sacrificed myself to save a person, I owe my life to a friend and I see his tears: what happiness!”
End of introductory segment.
The spirit of the system forced reasonable people to assert many oddities and even absurdities: thus, some wrote and proved that our natural abilities and properties are the same; that the circumstances and incidents of education not only form or develop, but also give character to a person, along with a special mind and talents; that Alexander in other circumstances might have been a peace-loving brahmin, Euclid an author of sensitive novels, Attila a gentle shepherd boy, and Peter the Great an ordinary man! If it were necessary to refute an obvious lie, then we would present here many well-educated, many learned people who have everything except - feelings and reason ... No! One nature creates and gives: upbringing only forms. Nature alone sows: art or instruction only waters the seed so that it blossoms better and more perfectly. Both the mind and the character of people are her business: father, teacher, circumstances can help his further development, but no more. - Whether nature binds mental faculties and moral qualities to some special forms or actions of the physical composition, we do not know: this is its secret. The system of Lavater and Dr. Gal seems to us to this day a mere figment of the imagination. The venerable and prudent Cabanis himself, explaining the happiness and unhappiness of life - temperament, passions, sadness and fun - by the properties of solid parts and liquids, does not undertake to measure and hang out in a pharmacy way, how much is needed for the work of a genius, mathematician, philosopher, poet, villain or virtuous husband.
Be that as it may, we see in the light of people smart and sensitive, smart and cold, from cradle to grave, according to the Russian proverb; and their moral property is so independent of the will that all convictions of the mind, all firm intentions to change their temper remain without action. La Fontaine said:
We are eternally what we are destined to be in the world.
Drive nature through the door: it will fly in through the window!
It is true that only sensitive people know this bondage; the cold ones are always pleased with themselves and do not want to change. Does not one such remark prove that profit and happiness are on the side of the latter? The former, no doubt, enjoy more lively; but as in life there are more sorrows than pleasures, then the weaker feeling of both is a gain. “The gods do not give, but sell us pleasures,” said the Greek tragedian; “And too expensive,” one might say, so that we remain fools with the purchase. But the sensitive is a natural wast: he sees his ruin, fights with himself and buys everything.
However, loving justice, let us also note its inherent advantages. Indifferent people are more prudent in everything, live more peacefully in the world, do less trouble and less often upset the harmony of society; but some sensitive people make great sacrifices to virtue, surprise the world with great deeds, for which, according to Montagne, you always need “a small admixture of recklessness” - “un peu de folie”, they shine with the talents of imagination and creative mind: poetry and eloquence are talents their. Cold people can only be mathematicians, geographers, naturalists, antiquarians and - if you like - philosophers! ..
We had the opportunity to learn the history of two people, which represents these two characters in their faces.
Erast and Leonid studied at the same boarding school and became friends early. The first could be called handsome: the second attracted the attention of people with an excellently intelligent face. In the first, from infancy, a rare sensitivity was revealed: the second seemed to be born prudent. Erast surprised with his concept, Leonid with diligence. It seemed that the first one was not learning, but only remembering the old; the second never forgot what he once learned. The first, from excessive self-reliance, putting off every matter until the last minute, sometimes did not learn a lesson; the second always knew him beforehand, kept repeating and did not believe his memory. Erast sometimes did little pranks, quarreled with his comrades and often deserved punishment; but everyone loved him. Leonid behaved quietly, approximately and did not offend anyone; but he was only praised. One was considered sincere, good-natured: such was he in fact. The other was suspected of cunning and even of craftiness: but he was only cautious. - Their mutual friendship seemed wonderful: they were so dissimilar in character! But this friendship was based on the very difference of properties. Erast had a need for prudence, Leonid - for liveliness of thoughts, which for his soul had beauty of the amazing The sensitivity of one demanded a message; the indifference and coldness of the other looked for employment. When the heart and imagination are on fire in a man, he loves to talk; when the soul is without action, he listens with pleasure. Erast, as a child, was captivated by novels, poetry, and in history, most of all he loved extraordinary things, examples of heroism and generosity. Leonid did not understand how one could deal with fables, that is, novels! Poetry seemed to him a difficult and useless game of the mind, and poets - people who want to run fast in shackles. He read history with great diligence, but only in order to know it, not for inner enjoyment, but as vocabularies or grammar. Is it any wonder that the opinions of friends about her heroes did not agree? Erast praised Alexander's generosity and courage to the skies: Leonid called him a brave madman. The first said: "He conquered the universe!" The second answered: “Not knowing why!” Erast adored Cato, the virtuous suicide: Leonidas considered him a lunatic arrogant. Erast admired the turbulent times of Greek and Roman freedom: Leonid thought that freedom is evil when it does not allow people to live in peace. Erast believed in everything extraordinary in history: Leonid doubted everything that was not in accordance with the ordinary order of things. One was asked with an ardent imagination, and the other with a phlegmatic character.
“...One nature creates and gives: upbringing only forms. Nature alone sows: art or instruction only waters the seed so that it blossoms better and more perfectly. Both the mind and the character of people are her business: father, teacher, circumstances can help his further development, but no more. Whether nature binds mental abilities and moral qualities to some special forms or actions of the physical composition, we do not know: this is its secret ... "
Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin - Sensitive and cold read online
Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin
Sensitive and cold
Two characters
The spirit of the system forced reasonable people to assert many oddities and even absurdities: thus, some wrote and proved that our natural abilities and properties are the same; that the circumstances and incidents of education not only form or develop, but also give character to a person, along with a special mind and talents; that Alexander in other circumstances might have been a peace-loving brahmin, Euclid an author of sensitive novels, Attila a gentle shepherd boy, and Peter the Great an ordinary man! If it were necessary to refute an obvious lie, then we would present here many well-educated, many learned people who have everything except - feelings and reason ... No! One nature creates and gives: upbringing only forms. Nature alone sows: art or instruction only waters the seed so that it blossoms better and more perfectly. Both the mind and the character of people are her business: father, teacher, circumstances can help his further development, but no more. - Whether nature binds mental faculties and moral qualities to some special forms or actions of the physical composition, we do not know: this is its secret. The system of Lavater and Dr. Gal seems to us to this day a mere figment of the imagination. The venerable and prudent Cabanis himself, explaining the happiness and unhappiness of life - temperament, passions, sadness and fun - by the properties of solid parts and liquids, does not undertake to measure and hang out in a pharmacy way, how much is needed for the work of a genius, mathematician, philosopher, poet, villain or virtuous husband.
Be that as it may, we see in the light of people smart and sensitive, smart and cold, from cradle to grave, according to the Russian proverb; and their moral property is so independent of the will that all convictions of the mind, all firm intentions to change their temper remain without action. La Fontaine said:
We are forever what we are destined to be in the world. Drive nature through the door: it will fly in through the window!
It is true that only sensitive people know this bondage; the cold ones are always pleased with themselves and do not want to change. Does not one such remark prove that profit and happiness are on the side of the latter? The former, no doubt, enjoy more lively; but as in life there are more sorrows than pleasures, then the weaker feeling of both is a gain. “The gods do not give, but sell us pleasures,” said the Greek tragedian; “And too expensive,” one might say, so that we remain fools with the purchase. But the sensitive is a natural wast: he sees his ruin, fights with himself and buys everything.
However, loving justice, let us also note its inherent advantages. Indifferent people are more prudent in everything, live more peacefully in the world, do less trouble and less often upset the harmony of society; but some sensitive people make great sacrifices to virtue, surprise the world with great deeds, for which, according to Montagne, you always need “a small admixture of recklessness” - “un peu de folie”, they shine with the talents of imagination and creative mind: poetry and eloquence are talents their. Cold people can only be mathematicians, geographers, naturalists, antiquarians and - if you like - philosophers! ..
We had the opportunity to learn the history of two people, which represents these two characters in their faces.
Erast and Leonid studied at the same boarding school and became friends early. The first could be called handsome: the second attracted the attention of people with an excellently intelligent face. In the first, from infancy, a rare sensitivity was revealed: the second seemed to be born prudent. Erast surprised with his concept, Leonid with diligence. It seemed that the first one was not learning, but only remembering the old; the second never forgot what he once learned. The first, from excessive self-reliance, putting off every matter until the last minute, sometimes did not learn a lesson; the second always knew him beforehand, kept repeating and did not believe his memory. Erast sometimes did little pranks, quarreled with his comrades and often deserved punishment; but everyone loved him. Leonid behaved quietly, approximately and did not offend anyone; but he was only praised. One was considered sincere, good-natured: such was he in fact. The other was suspected of cunning and even of craftiness: but he was only cautious. - Their mutual friendship seemed wonderful: they were so dissimilar in character! But this friendship was based on the very difference of properties. Erast had a need for prudence, Leonid - for liveliness of thoughts, which for his soul had beauty of the amazing The sensitivity of one demanded a message; the indifference and coldness of the other looked for employment. When the heart and imagination are on fire in a man, he loves to talk; when the soul is without action, he listens with pleasure. Erast, as a child, was captivated by novels, poetry, and in history, most of all he loved extraordinary things, examples of heroism and generosity. Leonid did not understand how one could deal with fables, that is, novels! Poetry seemed to him a difficult and useless game of the mind, and poets - people who want to run fast in shackles. He read history with great diligence, but only in order to know it, not for inner enjoyment, but as vocabularies or grammar. Is it any wonder that the opinions of friends about her heroes did not agree? Erast praised Alexander's generosity and courage to the skies: Leonid called him a brave madman. The first said: "He conquered the universe!" The second answered: “Not knowing why!” Erast adored Cato, the virtuous suicide: Leonidas considered him a lunatic arrogant. Erast admired the turbulent times of Greek and Roman freedom: Leonid thought that freedom is evil when it does not allow people to live in peace. Erast believed in everything extraordinary in history: Leonid doubted everything that was not in accordance with the ordinary order of things. One was asked with an ardent imagination, and the other with a phlegmatic character.
Both the opinions and the actions of our friends were different. Once the house where they studied and lived caught fire at night: Erast jumped out of bed undressed, woke up Leonid and other boarders, put out the fire, saved his professor's precious things and did not think about his own. The house burned down, and Erast, hugging his friend, said with a generous feeling: “I have lost everything; but in common disasters it’s good to forget oneself ... ”-“ It’s very bad, ”Leonid answered with composure,“ a person is created to think first about himself, and then about others; otherwise the light cannot stand. It's good that I managed to correct your recklessness: I saved both our chests and our books. So Leonid thought and acted in the sixteenth year of his life. - Another time they were walking along the river bank: in their eyes the boy fell from the bridge. Erast gasped and rushed into the water. Leonid wanted to keep him, but did not have time; however, he didn’t lose his head, didn’t even scream, but only with all his might started running to the fishermen, who were spreading their nets in the distance, threw them a ruble and ordered them to save Erast, who was already drowning. The fishermen pulled him out with the boy five minutes later. Leonid scolded his friend: he called him a fool, insane; however, he was crying... The rare sensitivity of cold people is all the more noticeable and touching. Erast kissed him and exclaimed: “I sacrificed myself to save a person, I owe my life to a friend and I see his tears: what happiness!”
They left the boarding school at the same time and went to the army together. Erast kept repeating: "We must seek glory!" Leonid said: “Duty orders to serve a nobleman ...” The first rushed into danger - the other went where they sent him. The first from excessive passion was soon captured by the enemy; the other earned the name of a cold-blooded, prudent officer and the cross of George at the end of the war. The world freed Erast ... How sincerely he rejoiced at the exaltation of his friend, who was far ahead of him in military ranks! Not the slightest shadow of envy darkened his good, pure heart. They both joined the civil service together. Leonid took a place that was not at all brilliant and difficult; Erast entered the office of the noblest nobleman, hoping with his talents to earn his attention and soon play great role in the state. But for the success of ambition, flexibility, constancy, coldness, patience are needed; Erast did not have any of these necessary properties. He wrote well; but, handing the paper to the minister, with a proud look he did not ask for condescending approval, but demanded fair praise; I was not afraid to annoy him: I was afraid only to humiliate myself before him. “Let him know,” Erast said to Leonid, “that I serve the state, not him, and I agree to work for a while in obscurity in order to become once on that degree that is worthy of noble ambition and on which my deeds will be glorious in the fatherland!. .” – “Dear friend! Leonid answered. - No talents will elevate a person in the state without pleasing people; if you do not want to serve them, then they will not give you a way to serve the fatherland itself. Do not despise the bottom rungs of the ladder: they lead to the top. A skillful ambitious man only occasionally glances at his distant goal, but constantly looks at his feet in order to walk towards it faithfully and not step in ... ”The ardent Erast could not like this slow, prudent move. Sometimes he worked with surprising diligence; sometimes, tired of business, he sought rest in secular dispersions. But this dangerous, imaginary rest, little by little, turned for him into the main business of life.
Erast was young, beautiful, smart and rich: how much right to enjoy the world! Women caressed him, men envied him: what pleasures for the heart and pride! He shortened the evenings for work in order to prolong them for the pleasures of society, finding that the minister's approving smile was not as kind as the tender smile of lovely women. To his credit, let us say that, forgetting his position, he was internally ashamed of his malfunction; however, he did not want to endure the slightest reprimand and each time answered them with a demand for his resignation. His minister was a kind and reasonable man, but a man: he lost his patience - and Erast finally became free, that is, idle.
“Congratulate me on my kind liberty! he said to Leonid, running into his office. “I was forbidden to be useful to the state: no one will forbid me to be happy.” Leonid shrugged his shoulders and answered his friend with a cold look: “I regret about you! A man at twenty-five is not allowed to live for pleasure alone."
It goes without saying that Erast, having taken his resignation, served the graces all the more zealously. He was truly sensitive: consequently, he wanted to love even more than to please. Soon the charm of tender passion presented him with light in one object and life in one feeling ... The blessed lover, forgetting the universe, remembered only his friend and flew to him to talk about his happiness. - The condescending Leonid left the order papers and listened to him; but often, leaning on the fireplace, dozed among the liveliest descriptions of the new Saint-Preux, who sometimes, in the heat of heartfelt eloquence, did not see it; sometimes, struck by the soporific effect of his, as it seemed to him, overly curious stories, he would say with a pitiful air: “You are dozing! ..” - “My friend! Leonid answered. “You lovers are in the habit of repeating the same thing a hundred times; and all sorts of unnecessary repetitions incline me to slumber. Leonidas kept to the Buffonian system, and moral love seemed to him a bad invention of the human mind. Erast called him rude, insensitive, a stone and other similar affectionate names. Leonid did not get angry, but stood by the fact that a prudent person needs to do business in life, and not the toys of a heated imagination. - The disputes of friends continued - and were not resolved; but Erast sometimes left the adored beauty to go to Leonid and prove to him the indescribable happiness that a lover enjoys in the presence of his mistress! Our cold-blooded philosopher smiled...
He found other occasions to triumph over his opponent. Love has long been compared to a rose that captivates the sense of smell and eyes, but pricks the hand: unfortunately, thorns are more durable than color! .. Erast, enjoying delights, also experienced displeasure: sometimes he himself was bored, sometimes they were bored; sometimes he suffered from his fidelity, sometimes he suffered from the fickleness of his mistresses. It should be noted that even the most brilliant young people for the most part enter into connections with windy women, who save them from a difficult search: is it any wonder that love and impermanence have almost the same meaning in the world? Erast, with tears, sometimes rushed into the arms of a faithful friend in order to complain to him about the lovely liars. Leonid in such cases acted magnanimously: he consoled him and did not think of laughing at the poor sufferer. But the sincere Erast himself loved to blame himself, cursed the delusions of passions, wrote caustic satires on coquettes and at first read them only to a friend - and after a few days to women - and after a few days he threw them into the fire, again captivated by some angel: for every languid charmer, who took the trouble to assure him of her love, usually seemed to him a heavenly being, and Leonid had to fall asleep again, listening to eloquent descriptions of her sweet qualities and sensitivity. - In a word, Erast was either blissful, or tormented, or, in the absence of living feelings, languished with unbearable boredom. Leonid did not know happiness, but did not seek it and was pleased with the peaceful calmness of a clear and meek soul. The former adored freedom with his mind, but always depended on other people in his heart; the second agreed his will with the order of things and did not know the burden of coercion. Erast sometimes envied Leonidov's indifference; Leonid always regretted the ardent Erast.
This last one finally left P * - after one beauty - leaving Leonid sick; he was worried along the way, considered himself a criminal in friendship, wanted to return ten times, but meanwhile he had already entered M-y - from where, a few days later, he informed a friend of his marriage ... on pleasure, cannot be reliable and, torn, leave in the heart sorrow for the past error, I resorted to an alliance sanctified by opinion and law! His eternity captivates my soul, weary of inconstancy. - Erast conjured a friend to rush into his arms and be a witness to his true happiness. Leonid soon appeared in M * ... Delighted Erast rushed to meet him, saying: “Now I see the experience of your tender friendship! ..” - “I asked for leave on vacation,” said Leonid indifferently, “to go to my village. me through M-y road... ”And in fact he left two days later.
Erast seemed happy to himself and to others: Nina, his wife, was beautiful and sweet. He enjoyed both love and peace together; but he soon noticed in himself some kind of wonderful disposition to melancholy: he pondered, became discouraged and was glad when he could cry. The thought that his fate had been decided forever—that he had nothing more to wish for in the world, but should only be afraid of loss—wonderfully disturbed his soul. We will never explain this feeling to cold people: it will seem to them madness, but it makes the happiest unhappy. Imagination, which is forever busy heart does not allow to seek the mysterious bliss beyond the distant horizon, as if bored by its inaction and gives birth to sad phantoms around us.
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| site collection
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| Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin
| Sensitive and cold
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The spirit of the system forced reasonable people to assert many oddities and even absurdities: thus, some wrote and proved that our natural abilities and properties are the same; that the circumstances and incidents of education not only form or develop, but also give character to a person, along with a special mind and talents; that Alexander in other circumstances might have been a peace-loving brahmin, Euclid an author of sensitive novels, Attila a gentle shepherd boy, and Peter the Great an ordinary man! If it were necessary to refute an obvious lie, then we would present here many well-educated, many learned people who have everything except - feelings and reason ... No! One nature creates and gives: upbringing only forms. Nature alone sows: art or instruction only waters the seed so that it blossoms better and more perfectly. Both the mind and the character of people are her business: father, teacher, circumstances can help his further development, but no more. - Whether nature binds mental faculties and moral qualities to some special forms or actions of the physical composition, we do not know: this is its secret. The system of Lavater and Dr. Gal seems to us to this day a mere figment of the imagination. The venerable and prudent Cabanis himself, explaining the happiness and unhappiness of life - temperament, passions, sadness and fun - by the properties of solid parts and liquids, does not undertake to measure and hang out in a pharmacy way, how much is needed for the work of a genius, mathematician, philosopher, poet, villain or virtuous husband.
Be that as it may, we see in the light of people smart and sensitive, smart and cold, from the cradle to the grave, according to the Russian proverb; and their moral property is so independent of the will that all convictions of the mind, all firm intentions to change their temper remain without action. La Fontaine said:
We are eternally what we are destined to be in the world.
Drive nature through the door: it will fly in through the window!
It is true that only sensitive people know this bondage; the cold ones are always pleased with themselves and do not want to change. Does not one such remark prove that profit and happiness are on the side of the latter? The former, no doubt, enjoy more lively; but as in life there are more sorrows than pleasures, then the weaker feeling of both is a gain. “The gods do not give, but sell us pleasures,” said the Greek tragedian; “And too expensive,” one might say, so that we remain fools with the purchase. But the sensitive is a natural wast: he sees his ruin, fights with himself and buys everything.
However, loving justice, let us also note its inherent advantages.
Indifferent people are more prudent in everything, live more peacefully in the world, do less trouble and less often upset the harmony of society; but some sensitive people make great sacrifices to virtue, surprise the world with great deeds, for which, according to Montagne, you always need “a small admixture of recklessness” - “un peu de folie”, they shine with the talents of imagination and creative mind: poetry and eloquence are talents their. Cold people can only be mathematicians, geographers, naturalists, antiquarians and - if you like - philosophers! ..
We had the opportunity to learn the history of two people, which represents these two characters in their faces.
Erast and Leonid studied at the same boarding school and became friends early. The first could be called handsome: the second attracted the attention of people with an excellently intelligent face. In the first, from infancy, a rare sensitivity was revealed: the second seemed to be born prudent. Erast surprised with his concept, Leonid with diligence. It seemed that the first one was not learning, but only remembering the old; the second never forgot what he once learned. The first, from excessive self-reliance, putting off every matter until the last minute, sometimes did not learn a lesson; the second always knew him beforehand, kept repeating and did not believe his memory. Erast sometimes did little pranks, quarreled with his comrades and often deserved punishment; but everyone loved him. Leonid behaved quietly, approximately and did not offend anyone; but he was only praised. One was considered sincere, good-natured: such was he in fact. The other was suspected of cunning and even of craftiness: but he was only cautious. - Their mutual friendship seemed wonderful: they were so dissimilar in character! But this friendship was based on the very difference of properties. Erast needed prudence, Leonid needed liveliness of thoughts, which for his soul had the charm of the amazing, Sensitivity alone required communication; the indifference and coldness of the other looked for employment. When the heart and imagination are on fire in a man, he loves to talk; when the soul is without action, he listens with pleasure. Erast, as a child, was captivated by novels, poetry, and in history, most of all he loved extraordinary things, examples of heroism and generosity. Leonid did not understand how one could deal with fables, that is, novels! Poetry seemed to him a difficult and useless game of the mind, and poets - people who want to run fast in shackles. He read history with great diligence, but only in order to know it, not for inner enjoyment, but as vocabularies or grammar. Is it any wonder that the opinions of friends about her heroes did not agree? Erast praised Alexander's generosity and courage to the skies: Leonid called him a brave madman. The first said: "He conquered the universe!" The second answered: “Not knowing why!” Erast adored Cato, the virtuous suicide: Leonidas considered him a lunatic arrogant. Erast admired the turbulent times of Greek and Roman freedom: Leonid thought that freedom is evil when it does not allow people to live in peace. Erast believed in everything extraordinary in history: Leonid doubted everything that was not in accordance with the ordinary order of things. One was asked with an ardent imagination, and the other with a phlegmatic character.
Both the opinions and the actions of our friends were different. Once the house where they studied and lived caught fire at night: Erast jumped out of bed undressed, woke up Leonid and other boarders, put out the fire, saved his professor's precious things and did not think about his own. The house burned down, and Erast, hugging his friend, said with a generous feeling: “I have lost everything; but in common disasters it’s good to forget oneself ... ”-“ It’s very bad, ”Leonid answered with composure,“ a person is created to think first about himself, and then about others; otherwise the light cannot stand. It's good that I managed to correct your recklessness: I saved both our chests and our books. So Leonid thought and acted in the sixteenth year of his life. - Another time they were walking along the river bank: in their eyes the boy fell from the bridge. Erast gasped and rushed into the water. Leonid wanted to keep him, but did not have time; however, he didn’t lose his head, didn’t even scream, but only with all his might started running to the fishermen, who were spreading their nets in the distance, threw them a ruble and ordered them to save Erast, who was already drowning. The fishermen pulled him out with the boy five minutes later. Leonid scolded his friend: he called him a fool, insane; however, he was crying... The rare sensitivity of cold people is all the more noticeable and touching. Erast kissed him and exclaimed: “I sacrificed myself to save a person, I owe my life to a friend and I see his tears: what happiness!”
They left the boarding school at the same time and went to the army together. Erast kept repeating: "We must seek glory!" Leonid said: “Duty orders to serve a nobleman ...” The first rushed into danger - the other went where they sent him. The first from excessive passion was soon captured by the enemy; the other earned the name of a cold-blooded, prudent officer and the cross of George at the end of the war. The world freed Erast ... How sincerely he rejoiced at the exaltation of his friend, who was far ahead of him in military ranks! Not the slightest shadow of envy clouded his kind, pure heart. They both joined the civil service together. Leonid took a place that was not at all brilliant and difficult; Erast entered the office of the noblest nobleman, hoping with his talents to earn his attention and soon play a great role in the state. But for the success of ambition, flexibility, constancy, coldness, patience are needed; Erast did not have any of these necessary properties. He wrote well; but, handing the paper to the minister, with a proud look he did not ask for condescending approval, but demanded fair praise; I was not afraid to annoy him: I was afraid only to humiliate myself before him. “Let him know,” Erast said to Leonid, “that I serve the state, not him, and I agree to work for a while in obscurity in order to become once on that degree that is worthy of noble ambition and on which my deeds will be glorious in the fatherland!. .” – “Dear friend! Leonid answered. - No talents will elevate a person in the state without pleasing people; if you do not want to serve them, then they will not give you a way to serve the fatherland itself. Do not despise the bottom rungs of the ladder: they lead to the top. A skillful ambitious man only occasionally glances at his distant goal, but constantly looks at his feet in order to walk towards it faithfully and not step in ... ”The ardent Erast could not like this slow, prudent move. Sometimes he worked with surprising diligence; sometimes, tired of business, he sought rest in secular dispersions. But this dangerous, imaginary rest, little by little, turned for him into the main business of life.
Erast was young, beautiful, smart and rich: how much right to enjoy the world! Women caressed him, men envied him: what pleasures for the heart and pride! He shortened the evenings for work in order to prolong them for the pleasures of society, finding that the minister's approving smile was not as kind as the tender smile of lovely women. To his credit, let us say that, forgetting his position, he was internally ashamed of his malfunction; however, he did not want to endure the slightest reprimand and each time answered them with a demand for his resignation. His minister was a kind and reasonable man, but a man: he lost his patience - and Erast finally became free, that is, idle.
“Congratulate me on my kind liberty! he said to Leonid, running into his office. “I was forbidden to be useful to the state: no one will forbid me to be happy.” Leonid shrugged his shoulders and answered his friend with a cold look: “I regret about you! A man at twenty-five is not allowed to live for pleasure alone."
It goes without saying that Erast, having taken his resignation, served the graces all the more zealously. He was truly sensitive: consequently, he wanted to love even more than to please. Soon the charm of tender passion presented him with light in one object and life in one feeling ... The blessed lover, forgetting the universe, remembered only his friend and flew to him to talk about his happiness. - The condescending Leonid left the order papers and listened to him; but often, leaning on the fireplace, dozed among the liveliest descriptions of the new Saint-Preux, who sometimes, in the heat of heartfelt eloquence, did not see it; sometimes, struck by the soporific effect of his, as it seemed to him, overly curious stories, he would say with a pitiful air: “You are dozing! ..” - “My friend! Leonid answered. “You lovers are in the habit of repeating the same thing a hundred times; and all sorts of unnecessary repetitions incline me to slumber. Leonidas adhered to the Buffonian system, and moral love seemed to him a bad invention of the human mind. Erast called him rude, insensitive, a stone and other similar affectionate names. Leonid did not get angry, but stood by the fact that a prudent person should be busy in life with business, and not with the toys of a heated imagination. - The disputes of friends continued - and were not resolved; but Erast sometimes left the adored beauty to go to Leonid and prove to him the indescribable happiness that a lover enjoys in the presence of his mistress! Our cold-blooded philosopher smiled...
He found other occasions to triumph over his opponent. Love has long been compared to a rose that captivates the sense of smell and eyes, but pricks the hand: unfortunately, thorns are more durable than color! .. Erast, enjoying delights, also experienced displeasure: sometimes he himself was bored, sometimes they were bored; sometimes he suffered from his fidelity, sometimes he suffered from the fickleness of his mistresses. It should be noted that even the most brilliant young people for the most part enter into connections with windy women, who save them from a difficult search: is it any wonder that love and impermanence have almost the same meaning in the world? Erast, with tears, sometimes rushed into the arms of a faithful friend in order to complain to him about the lovely liars. Leonid in such cases acted magnanimously: he consoled him and did not think of laughing at the poor sufferer. But the sincere Erast himself loved to blame himself, cursed the delusions of passions, wrote caustic satires on coquettes and at first read them only to a friend - and after a few days to women - and after a few days he threw them into the fire, again captivated by some angel: for every languid charmer, who took the trouble to assure him of her love, usually seemed to him a heavenly being, and Leonid had to fall asleep again, listening to eloquent descriptions of her sweet qualities and sensitivity. - In a word, Erast was either blissful, or tormented, or, in the absence of living feelings, languished with unbearable boredom. Leonid did not know happiness, but did not seek it and was pleased with the peaceful calmness of a clear and meek soul. The former adored freedom with his mind, but always depended on other people in his heart; the second agreed his will with the order of things and did not know the burden of coercion. Erast sometimes envied Leonidov's indifference; Leonid always regretted the ardent Erast.
This last one finally left P * - after one beauty - leaving Leonid sick; he was worried along the way, considered himself a criminal in friendship, wanted to return ten times, but meanwhile he had already entered M-y - from where, a few days later, he informed a friend of his marriage ... on pleasure, cannot be reliable and, torn, leave in the heart sorrow for the past error, I resorted to an alliance sanctified by opinion and law! His eternity captivates my soul, weary of inconstancy. - Erast conjured a friend to rush into his arms and be a witness to his true happiness. Leonid soon appeared in M * ... Delighted Erast rushed to meet him, saying: “Now I see the experience of your tender friendship! ..” - “I asked for leave on vacation,” said Leonid indifferently, “to go to my village. I have a road through M ... ”And in fact he left two days later.
Erast seemed happy to himself and to others: Nina, his wife, was beautiful and sweet. He enjoyed both love and peace together; but he soon noticed in himself some kind of wonderful disposition to melancholy: he pondered, became discouraged and was glad when he could cry. The thought that his fate had been decided forever—that he had nothing more to wish for in the world, but should only be afraid of loss—wonderfully disturbed his soul. We will never explain this feeling to cold people: it will seem to them madness, but it makes the happiest unhappy. Imagination, which is forever busy heart does not allow to seek the mysterious bliss beyond the distant horizon, as if bored by its inaction and gives birth to sad phantoms around us.
In this location, Leonid found Erast, returning from the village to M-y, and promised to live with him for some time. Nina wanted to seem kind to him: is it wise? Erast praised him so immoderately! And friends of husbands, as you know, have great rights to caress their wives. Leonid, always indifferent and calm, was all the more entertaining in society; his heart never prevented his mind from seeking at leisure pleasant ideas for conversation. In addition, we noticed that women sometimes like cold people more sensitive. The latter reveal themselves with excessive speed and without any economy, while the former hide behind a shield of indifference and arouse curiosity, which strongly affects the female imagination. I want to see a phlegmatic heart in ardent activity, I want to revive the statue ... But without further explanation, let's say that Leonid suddenly - left for P *, without saying goodbye to either the owner or the hostess.
Erast was amazed and hurried to his wife ... Nina shed tears, wrote and wanted to hide the paper from him. He tore the letter out of her hands... Poor husband, but a happy friend! The reckless woman in her letter to him conjured him to return, and otherwise threatened to poison herself with poison ... Erast was numb with horror ... The guilty wife lay unconscious at his feet ... Seeing her deathly pallor, he forgot everything and tried only to bring her to her senses ... Nina opened her dark eyes. I don’t know what she said to Erast, but after a few minutes Erast, pressing her to his heart, exclaimed loudly: “Such angelic repentance is sweeter than chastity itself; I forget everything, and we will be happy! ..” On the same day, he wrote to Leonid: “O faithful and priceless friend! Your deed overshadows the virtue of Scipio; but I dare to think that in similar circumstances I would have done the same! Leonid, in his answer, expressed regret about his domestic troubles and said, among other things: “Women are amiable and weak, like children; it is necessary to let them down a lot; but what sensible person would sacrifice old friend their momentary whim?"
Tender hearts are always ready to forgive generously and rejoice at the thought that they thereby acquire new rights to the love of the guilty, but the repentance of a weak soul does not strengthen it for long in virtuous feelings: it is like trembling musical string, gradually subsides, and the soul enters again into that disposition that brought it to vice. It is easier to resist the first than the second guilt - and poor Erast divorced his wife, because not all of his acquaintances, like Leonid, fled from the charms of Nina.
We see unhappy husbands in the light and are almost used to them, but if they are sensitive, can we sincerely not feel sorry for them? We love to weep with a woeful widower; he is happy in comparison with a husband who must hate or despise his wife! .. In his despair, Erast complained about fate, and even more so about women. “I loved you ardently and tenderly,” he said, “I knew how to be constant for the most anemones, I knew how to be honest in the most immoral relationships, I saw how you forget your positions, but remembered yours, and as a reward for being left several times lover, has finally become a deceived husband! Erast wept for two weeks, for two weeks he wandered alone around the outskirts of the city, and there, wanting to do something, he decided to be an author.
A sensitive heart is a rich source of ideas: if reason and taste help it, then success is undoubted and a celebrity awaits the writer. Erast lived in solitude, but soon attracted general attention; the wise pronounce his name with reverence, and the good ones with love: for he was born a gentle friend of mankind and in his creations portrayed a soul passionate for the good of people. A phantom called glory appeared to him in a radiant radiance and inflamed him with the zeal of immortality. “Oh glory! he thought with delight in his heart. - I was looking for you once in the smoke of battles and on the field of bloodshed; now, in a quiet study, I see your brilliant image in front of me and dedicate the rest of my life to you. I did not know how to be happy, but I can be the subject of surprise; wreaths of myrtle wither with youth; the laurel wreath turns green even on the coffin!..” Poor Erast! You traded one dream for another. Glory is beneficial for the world, and not for those who acquire it ... Soon vipers of envy began to hiss, and the good-natured author made enemies for himself. These wonderful people, whom he did not know by sight, turned pale and suffered from his success as an author; they composed vile, poisonous lampoons and were ready to tear apart a person who had not offended them either by deed or by thought. In vain did Erast challenge his envious people to write better than him: they only knew how to pour out poison and bile, and not to shine with talent. Erast had the weakness to be upset by their hatred and wrote to his friend: “Having learned the frivolity of women, I now see the malice of men. The former apologize, although with pleasure: the latter do evil without any benefit to themselves. “It’s more correct,” Leonid answered him, “to go in the world on a high road and stock up on such money that is accepted everywhere. We have a service the surest way to respect (which is akin to looking for people in a civil union), and ranks are a walking coin; let us suppose that glory is more precious, but how many people know its stigma and high standard? This is not a coin, but a medal: one connoisseur will take it instead of money. Moreover, the gifts of the mind are always challenged, and the reason is clear: small, but self-loving souls, which are enough in the world, want to be exalted by the humiliation of the great. But the deed is done, and you are standing on the path of glory: have the firmness to despise the effort of envy, which is necessary condition big name! Do not only despise it, but also rejoice in it: for it proves that you are already glorious. - Leonidov's letter concluded with these words: “I'm getting married in a month in order to save myself from household worries. A woman is needed for order in the house.
Erast forgot his authorial displeasures in order to rush to P * for the wedding of a friend ... They had not seen each other for a long time, Leonid, despite the diligence of a business man, blossomed with health; for all dietetics begins with the prescription: "Be calm in spirit!" Erast, once a beautiful young man, dried up like a skeleton; for " fiery passions , according to one Englishman, the essence of the couriers of life: with them it is not long to go to the cemetery. Love and glory feed the soul, not the body. Leonid, despite his coldness, sadly noticed Erast's pallor ... He did not deceive his friend and, in fact, got married only “for order in the house”, having announced the conditions to the bride in advance: “1) to visit once a week; 2) receive guests once a week; 3) to enter his office once a day, and then for five minutes. She, fulfilling her father's will, agreed to everything and strictly observed her husband's instructions, all the more willingly because the melancholic Erast lived in their house, loved to sit with her by the fireplace and read French novels to her. Sometimes they wept together like children, and soon their souls became astonishingly accustomed. The first movements of sympathy require frankness: the heart in such a case has all the conjecture of a penetrating mind and knows that sincerity acts more powerfully than the most eloquent assurances of friendship. Callista learned the details of Erast's life, unknown even to her husband, and it was wonderful: she listened to Erast with lively pleasure, and Leonid - with coldness. Paying a power of attorney for a power of attorney, Kallista complained to him about Leonidov’s indifference and once said: “I would like to know the reckless Nina in order to have an idea about a woman who did not know how to be happy with you! ..” But she already explained herself without words with Erast. Touched sensitivity has its own language, to which all others are inferior in expressiveness; and if the eyes generally serve as a mirror of the soul, then what will not a passionate woman say with them? Every minute, every movement of Callista proved that Erast had to - retire! He wanted to deceive himself, but he could not; he was horrified to be loved, but did not cease to be amiable; wanted to part forever, but from morning to evening he saw Callista. What did prudent Leonidas do in the meantime? Dealt with orders. However, cold people are not blind - and one morning they announced to poor Erast that he was the master in Leonid's house! .. That is, our phlegmatic, without long-distance fees, put his wife in a carriage and safely left P * with her, writing the following note to a friend: “You will forever be a child; and Callista is a woman. I know you and I want to save you from reproaches of conscience. I was instructed to finish an important state business a thousand miles away. Your faithful friend to the grave ... ”Readers can spare Erast: remorse punished him enough. For a tender heart, all possible disasters are nothing in comparison with those cases where it must reproach itself. "Reckless! he thought. - I seduced the wife of a friend who did not want to take advantage of my wife's weakness! Here is the reward for his virtue! O shame! I dared not be surprised at her and thought that I myself could do the same! .. ”To Erast’s credit, we say that he was not annoyed with Leonid for his separation from Callista.
Fate sent him consolation. He knew that Leonid's father-in-law had an important court case and, in all likelihood, had to lose his estate. Erast secretly gave himself a bill of exchange to his rival in a large amount, with the condition that he stop the litigation by peace. He liked this generous sacrifice all the more because both Leonidas and Callista were together its subject; he did not want to love, but allowed himself to regret weak woman who forgot her position for him!
