Positive qualities of the Russian people. National character
For many centuries, foreign guests and merchants, visiting first Rus' and then - tried to understand the secret of the mysterious Russian soul. Russian Empire. Worldwide famous classics Russian literature They also did not remain aloof from solving the riddle of the Russian mentality - in their works they tried to describe Russian men and women and reveal as fully as possible the facets of their character and the peculiarities of their worldview. But still, even now, to most foreigners, Russians seem mysterious and largely incomprehensible, and Russians themselves can unmistakably distinguish their compatriots among a crowd of foreigners in another country. But what is the peculiarity of the mentality and psychology of Russians that makes them so different from representatives of other nations?
National characteristics of Russians
The national character traits of Russians have been formed over the centuries, and the foundation of the unique mentality of the nation began to be laid back in the Middle Ages, when most Russians lived in villages and ran collective farms. It was from those centuries that for Russians the opinion of society and their own position in the team began to mean a lot. Also at that time, such a national trait Russians like and adherence to patriarchal traditions - the survival and well-being of the entire village, volost, etc. largely depended on the cohesion of the team and the presence of a strong leader.
These features are inherent in the psychology of Russians even now - the majority of the nation’s representatives are confident that the country needs a strong leader, do not consider themselves to have the right to openly criticize and challenge the decisions of their superiors, and are ready to support the government in any case. In relation to the role of each individual in society, the Russian mentality, like geographical position Russia, is located between the “West” and the “East”: it is difficult for representatives of this nation to accept the Western European model of society, in which the individuality of each individual person is considered an absolute value, but the Russians do not have such a privileged role of the collective over the individual, as is characteristic of the Chinese. We can say that the Russians were able to find " golden mean"between collectivism and individualism - they give great importance public opinion and their role in the team, but at the same time they know how to appreciate the individuality and uniqueness of each person’s personality.
One more national peculiarity The character of Russians, which distinguishes it from the mentality of other nations, is considered to be the “breadth” of the soul of the Russian person. Of course, the soul cannot be broad in the literal sense of the word, and this expression means that Russian people have the following features character:
Psychology of Russians in personal life and in everyday life
Most Russian people believe that the spiritual is more important than the material, so they do not set the goal of their life to earn millions, but choose other priorities - family, self-development, etc. Many Representatives of this people tend to have a “easy” attitude towards money
- a Russian person will not be too depressed during the holidays, and will often prefer to spend money on something pleasant for themselves rather than saving up for the future.
However, despite this attitude towards finances, Russians love luxury and pretentiousness, so they do not spare money on expensive home renovations, fashionable gadgets and status items. In Russian houses, in addition to furniture and household appliances, there are a lot of interior decorations - various souvenirs, figurines and other cute trinkets. It is also not uncommon for some unnecessary things to lie in the closet of an apartment or house for years - Russian people, since the existence of the USSR, have not yet completely gotten rid of the habit of keeping in reserve everything that could theoretically be useful in the future.
IN love relationships Russian men are gallant, romantic, generous and courteous and always strive to surround their lady with maximum care. Russian women are able to completely dissolve in a loved one, they are ready to make sacrifices for the sake of love and are sure that “there is heaven in the hut with your sweetheart.” In most Russian families, husband and wife have equal relations, but still, caring for children and household chores are considered predominantly women's work, and earning money for the whole family is considered men's.
A lot of research has been written - artistic and journalistic - about what the Russian character is, what traits are defining and original in it. They argued about the mysterious Russian soul the best minds Russian and Western philosophy and literature for several centuries. The same Dostoevsky, through the mouth of Dmitry Karamazov, argued that in the soul of every Russian person two ideals coexist - Madonna and Sodomy. Time has proven the complete truth of his words and their relevance today.
So, Russian character - what is it? Let's try to highlight some of its defining aspects.
Qualitative characteristics
- Domestic poets and writers such as Khomyakov, Aksakov, Tolstoy, Leskov, Nekrasov distinctive feature a man of the people was considered conciliarity. It has long been customary in Rus' to resolve many issues “peacefully,” from helping impoverished fellow villagers to global problems. Naturally, this moral category was considered as an attribute village life. And since Russia was originally an agrarian country and the bulk of the population was the peasantry, it was the village peasant who personified the character of the Russian person. It is not for nothing that in Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” the value of all heroes is determined by spiritual closeness to the people.
- Another feature characteristic of the people is directly related to conciliarity - religiosity. sincere, deep, unpretentious, and the peacefulness, humility, and mercy associated with it are part of the character of a Russian person as an organic part of him. An example of this is the legendary archpriest Avvakum, Peter and Fevronia of Murom, Matryona of Moscow and many other personalities. It is not for nothing that saints and holy fools, wandering monks and pilgrims enjoyed special respect and love among the people. And although the people treated the official church ironically and critically, examples of true piety can be considered as features of the Russian national character.
- The mysterious Russian soul in to a greater extent Self-sacrifice is more common than other nationalities. as a personification eternal sacrifice in the name of neighbors “while the world stands” - here it is, the Russian character in pure form, without any foreign impurities. And if you remember the Great Patriotic War, the simplicity and greatness of a soldier’s feat, then it will become clear that neither time nor change has power over true values, over what is eternal.
- Oddly enough, the natural properties of a person from the people include such qualities as stupidity, recklessness - on the one hand, and a sharp mind, natural savvy - on the other. The most famous and popular fairy tales- Ivanushka the fool and the lazy Emelya, as well as the skilled Soldier, who managed to cook porridge, embody these features of the Russian national character.
- Heroism, courage, devotion to one’s ideals, the cause one serves, modesty, love of peace - this also cannot be forgotten when talking about a Russian person. The writer Alexei Tolstoy has a wonderful essay in which the Russian character is defined capaciously, deeply and figuratively - “human beauty”.
- However, Russian people are ambivalent. It was not for nothing that Dostoevsky spoke about two ideals fighting in his soul. And therefore, along with boundless kindness and sacrifice, he is capable of the same boundless cruelty. “Russian revolt”, senseless, merciless, which Pushkin warned about, and then Civil War- terrible examples of what people are capable of if their patience is exhausted, if they are pushed to the limit of the possible.
- Drunkenness and theft are also, alas, primordially Russian qualities. Included in jokes famous phrase Karamzin about what is happening in his homeland. His laconic answer is “They steal!” - says a lot. By the way, it is still relevant today!
Afterword
We can talk about Russian for a long time. Love to native land, to the “father’s coffins”, respect for ancestors and memory of them - these are Russians. But the Ivans, who do not remember their kinship, betrayed small homeland, - also Russians. Truth-seekers who are ready to suffer for an idea, who have neglected material assets for the sake of the spiritual - Russians. But Chichikov, Sharikov and others like him are just as Russian...
The Savior once said about Christians: “If you were of this world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of this world, because I took you out of the world, the world hates you.” These same words can also be applied to the Russian people, into whose flesh and blood Christianity was most deeply absorbed.
Today we are often faced with open Russophobia and hatred from other states. But this is not a reason to panic, it did not start today and will not end tomorrow - it will always be like this.
The world hates us, but it itself does not suspect how much he himself needs the Russian people. If the Russian people disappear, then from the world soul taken out and he will lose the very meaning of his existence!
That is why the Lord protects us and Russians exist, despite all the tragedies and trials: Napoleon, Batu and Hitler, revolution, perestroika and Time of Troubles, drugs, moral decline and a crisis of responsibility...
We will live and develop as long as we ourselves remain relevant, as long as the Russian people retain the character traits inherent in our people.
Caring “friends” often remind us of those characteristics inherent in us that can be classified as bad, trying to make us hate ourselves and self-destruct... We will look at the positive characteristics of the Russian soul in order to remember what gifts the Lord has generously endowed us with and what we should always stay.
So, TOP 10 best qualities Russian person:
1. Strong faith
The Russian people believe in God at a deep level, have a strong inner sense of conscience, a concept of good and evil, worthy and unworthy, due and not due. Even the communists believed in their “Moral Code.”
It is the Russian person who views his entire life from the perspective son of God — The Father will like it or it will upset him. To act according to the law or according to conscience (according to the commandments of God) is a purely Russian problem.
A Russian person also believes in people, constantly doing good to them and even beyond that. sacrificing personal for the good of one's neighbor. A Russian person sees in another person first of all Image of God, sees equal, recognizes the dignity of another person. This is precisely the secret of the victorious power of Russian civilization, our gigantic spaces and multinational unity.
Russian people believe in themselves as the bearer of Truth. Hence the strength of our actions and the legendary Russian survival. Not a single conqueror in the world could destroy us. Only we ourselves can kill the Russian people if we believe in that negative image the Russian person who is being imposed on us.
2. Heightened sense of justice
We cannot live in comfort while lies are rampant in the world. “We’ll put together a strong coffin for the scum of humanity!” from the song " Holy war" - this is about us.
We for a long time fought with the Turks for the freedom of our Slavic brothers, we saved the poor from the bais and their extortions Central Asia, stopped the genocide of the Chinese by the Japanese army and saved the Jews from the Holocaust.
As soon as a Russian person believes that a threat to all of humanity comes from somewhere, Napoleon, Hitler, Mamai or anyone else immediately disappears from the historical canvas.
The same rule applies in inner life- our riots and revolutions are just attempts to build a fair society, punish those who have gone too far and alleviate the lot of the poor (naturally, if we consider the motivation of ordinary workers and peasants, and not the cynical leaders of the revolution).
You can rely on us - because we keep our word and do not betray our allies. The concept of honor, unlike the Anglo-Saxons, is not only familiar to Russian people, but also deeply inherent.
3. Love for the Motherland
All peoples love their homeland. Even Americans, a people of emigrants, treat their national symbols and traditions.
But a Russian person loves his homeland more than others! White emigrants fled the country under threat of death. It would seem that they should have hated Russia and quickly assimilated where they came. But what really happened?
They were so nostalgic that they taught their sons and grandchildren the Russian language, they were so homesick for their homeland that they created thousands of little Russias around them - they founded Russian institutes and seminaries, built Orthodox churches, taught Russian culture and language to thousands of Brazilians, Moroccans, Americans, French, Germans, Chinese...
They died not from old age, but from longing for their Fatherland and cried when the USSR authorities allowed them to return. They infected those around them with their love, and today Spaniards and Danes, Syrians and Greeks, Vietnamese, Filipinos and Africans come to live in Russia.
4. Unique generosity
Russian people are generous and generous in everything: material gifts, wonderful ideas, and expressions of feelings.
The word “generosity” in ancient times meant mercy, mercy. This quality is deeply rooted in the Russian character.
It is completely unnatural for a Russian person to spend 5% or 2% of his salary on charity. If a friend is in trouble, then the Russian will not bargain and gain something for himself, he will give his friend all the cash, and if it is not enough, he will throw his hat around or take off and sell his last shirt for him.
Half of the inventions in the world were made by Russian “Kulibins”, and patented by cunning foreigners. But Russians are not offended by this, since their ideas are also generosity, a gift from our people to humanity.
The Russian soul does not accept half measures and knows no prejudices. If in Russia someone was once called a friend, then they will die for him, if he is an enemy, then he will certainly be destroyed. At the same time, it doesn’t matter at all who our counterpart is, what race, nation, religion, age or gender he is - the attitude towards him will depend only on his personal qualities.
5. Incredible hard work
“The Russians are very lazy people,” Goebbels’ propagandists preached and their followers today continue to repeat. But that's not true.
We are often compared to bears and this comparison is very apt - we have similar biological rhythms: summer in Russia is short and you have to work hard in order to have time to harvest, and winter is long and relatively idle - chop wood, heat the stove, remove snow, and collect crafts. In fact, we work a lot, just unevenly.
Russian people have always worked diligently and conscientiously. In our fairy tales and proverbs positive image The hero is inextricably linked with skill, hard work and ingenuity: “The sun paints the earth, but labor paints man.”
Since ancient times, labor has been famous and revered among peasants and artisans, scribes and merchants, warriors and monks, and has always been deeply linked to the cause of defending the Fatherland and increasing its glory.
6. The ability to see and appreciate beauty
The Russian people live in extremely picturesque places. In our country you can find large rivers and steppes, mountains and seas, tropical forests and tundra, taiga and deserts. Therefore, the sense of beauty is heightened in the Russian soul.
Russian culture was formed over a thousand years, absorbing parts of the cultures of many Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes, as well as accepting and creatively processing the heritage of Byzantium and the Golden Horde and hundreds of small nations. Therefore, in terms of richness of content, it cannot be compared with no other culture in the world.
The awareness of the immensity of his own wealth, material and spiritual, made the Russian person friendly and understanding towards other peoples of the Earth.
A Russian person, like no one else, is able to highlight the beauty in the culture of another people, admire it and recognize the greatness of achievements. For him there are no backward or underdeveloped peoples, he has no need to treat anyone with disdain out of awareness of his own inferiority. Even from the Papuans and Indians, Russians will always find something to learn.
7. Hospitality
This national character trait is associated with our vast spaces, where it was rare to meet a person on the road. Hence the joy from such meetings - intense and sincere.
If a guest comes to a Russian person, a laid table, the best dishes, festive food and a warm overnight stay await him. And all this is done free of charge, since it is not customary for us to see in a person only a “wallet with ears” and treat him as a consumer.
Our man knows that a guest in the house should not be bored. Therefore, a foreigner who comes to us, when leaving, can hardly put together the memories of how they sang, danced, rode, fed him to the full and watered him to amazement...
8. Patience
The Russian people are amazingly patient. But this patience is not reduced to banal passivity or “slavery”; it is intertwined with sacrifice. Russian people are by no means stupid and always endure in the name of something, in the name of a meaningful goal.
If he realizes that he is being deceived, a rebellion begins - the same merciless revolt in the flames of which all the moneylenders and careless managers perish.
But when a Russian person knows for what purpose he endures difficulties and works hard, then national patience gives incredible positive results. For us to cut down an entire fleet in five years and win world war or industrialization is the order of the day.
Russian patience is also a kind of strategy for non-aggressive interaction with the world, solutions life problems not through violence against nature and consumption of its resources, but mainly through internal, spiritual efforts. We do not plunder the property given to us by God, but slightly moderate our appetites.
9. Sincerity
Another of the main features of the Russian character is sincerity in the manifestation of feelings.
A Russian person is bad at forcing a smile, he does not like pretense and ritual politeness, he gets irritated by insincere “thank you for your purchase, come again” and does not shake hands with a person whom he considers a scoundrel, even if this could bring benefits.
If a person doesn’t evoke emotions in you, then you don’t need to express anything - just walk in without stopping. Acting in Russia is not held in high esteem (unless it is a profession) and those who are most respected are those who speak and act as they think and feel as God put it on my soul.
10. Collectivism, conciliarity
A Russian person is not a loner. He loves and knows how to live in society, which is reflected in the sayings: “in the world even death is red,” “alone in the field is not a warrior.”
Since ancient times, nature itself, with its severity, has encouraged Russians to unite into groups - communities, artels, partnerships, squads and brotherhoods.
Hence the “imperialism” of Russians, that is, their indifference to the fate of a relative, neighbor, friend and, ultimately, the entire Fatherland. It was because of conciliarism that for a long time there were no homeless children in Rus' - orphans were always sorted into families and raised by the entire village.
Russian conciliarity, according to the definition of the Slavophile Khomyakov, is “a holistic combination of freedom and unity of many people based on their common love for the same absolute values,” Christian values.
The West was unable to create such a powerful state as Russia, united on spiritual principles, because it did not achieve conciliarity, and to unite peoples it was forced to use, first of all, violence.
Russia has always been united on the basis of mutual respect and mutual consideration of interests. The unity of the people in peace, love and mutual assistance has always been one of the basic values of the Russian people.
Andrey Szegeda
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To begin with, I would like to say what to talk about negative qualities, without affecting the positive ones, it is impossible. The world is diverse and polar, we are all different from each other, and, consequently, the soul of each of us is filled with contradictions. We have both good and bad, but for harmony in our hearts, the predominance of positive qualities is simply necessary. What is good about a Russian person? Probably depth and kindness, courage and self-sacrifice....
Now let's move on to the negative. Why do we, the Russian people, suffer so much? Are we destined for suffering? The roots of these problems must be sought in the past. Many classic writers of the 19th century depicted a Russian peasant sitting in a tavern, trying to wash away all the grief and suffering with alcohol. Drunkenness is what ruined our people then! Let's remember the image of Marmeladov from the novel by F.M. Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment.” How unhappy he was, he drank all his last money, trying to drown out the mental pain within himself. Yes, it was 2 centuries ago, but even now nothing has changed. How many Russian people ruin themselves by starting to drink in adolescence. These young people do not yet understand the full consequences of their addictions. But why are some people so drawn to alcohol? Despair is the character trait of the Russian person that has ruined and continues to ruin the Russian people.
Probably, we Russian people are filled with some kind of inner strength, that lives in us. But why are many not self-sufficient! Envy destroys everyone, we are no exception. This is what Greek historians said about the Slavs V - VI centuries AD: “The Slavs do not tolerate any power and hate each other.” Here lies the root of many of the problems in our lives! It is disgusting to envy and hate your brothers just because someone is more talented and better than you. This internal envy gives rise to insecurity in people, and in some cases pushes them to extreme measures and meanness. The feeling of uselessness or insignificance turns Russian people into, dare I say it, cattle, which become weapons in the hands of scoundrels.
Now I just have to find one more disgusting feature of our national character. After thinking carefully, I realized that this is a fear that has lived in us since childhood. In what conditions do we grow? Going out into the street, we hear swear words, kindergarten And primary school We, defenseless children, are subjected to constant humiliation and insults. Some teachers constantly shout at us, saying that we are bad and ill-mannered. I remember myself at that age, I remember how they told me - “She will never be able to study perfectly.” No, I don’t hold a grudge against those teachers, I’m glad that I met such people on my way, it was because of them that I tried, I proved, I fought. Now I am not afraid of trials, but in my soul, and even in my heart, the fear that was instilled in me for many years still lives.
I recently learned about the cult of family in Japan. There it is forbidden to even shout at a boy under 7 years old, since otherwise he will not grow into a real man, he will be a coward. The fear that the people around him in childhood gave rise to in him will live forever.
Yes, most likely, it is not interesting to read these lines, because everyone already knows this, but Fear itself will not go away, it must be eradicated. That's why I decided to write these letters to you. I really hope that you will allow me to take part in your project, that I will be able to overcome all my fears and come to you.
To summarize, I would like to once again list these three negative traits Russian character: DESPAIR, ENVY AND FEAR. If each of us can overcome these qualities in ourselves, then it will be possible to change anything in our lives.
Russian people are generally broad people...
wide as their land,
and extremely prone
to the fantastic, to the disorderly;
but the trouble is being wide
without much genius.
F.M. Dostoevsky
One can talk endlessly about the Russian character and its characteristics... There are so many things mixed up in a Russian person that you can’t even count them on your fingers.
What does it mean to be Russian? What is the peculiarity of the Russian character? How often this question is asked by gray-haired academicians in scientific debates, nimble journalists in various shows and ordinary citizens in table discussions? They ask and answer. They answer differently, but everyone notes our Russian “specialness” and is proud of it. You can’t lure a Russian person with a roll - Russians are so eager to preserve their own, dear, that they are proud of the most disgusting aspects of their identity: drunkenness, dirt, poverty. Russians make up jokes about how no one can outdrink them, happily showing their dirt to foreigners.
“Mysterious Russian soul”... What kind of epithets do we bestow on our Russian mentality. Is she so mysterious, the Russian soul, is she really so unpredictable? Maybe everything is much simpler? We Russians are capable of self-sacrifice in the name of our homeland, but we are not able to defend our interests as citizens of this country. We meekly accept all the resolutions and decisions of our leadership: we are choking in queues to replace our driver’s licenses; we lose consciousness in passport and visa services while waiting to receive a new passport; We knock on the threshold of the tax office in order to find out what number you now live under in this world. And this list can be continued endlessly. Limitless patience is what distinguishes a Russian person. How can one disagree with foreigners who personify us with a bear - huge, menacing, but so clumsy? We are probably rougher, certainly tougher in many cases. Russians have cynicism, emotional limitations, and a lack of culture. There is fanaticism, unscrupulousness, and cruelty. But still, mostly Russians strive for good.
For a Russian person, this is the most terrible accusation - the accusation of greed. All Russian folklore is based on the fact that being greedy is bad and greed is punishable. The catch, apparently, is that this same breadth can only be polar: drunkenness, unhealthy gambling, living for free, on the one hand. But, on the other hand, the purity of faith, carried and preserved through the centuries. Again, a Russian person cannot believe quietly and modestly. He never hides, but goes to execution for his faith, walking with his head held high, striking his enemies.
Very accurately the character traits of the Russian person are noted in folk tales and epics. In them, the Russian man dreams of a better future, but he is too lazy to make his dreams come true. He still hopes that he will catch a talking pike or catch goldfish who will fulfill his wishes. This primordial Russian laziness and love of dreaming about the advent of better times has always prevented our people from living like human beings. And the tendency towards acquisitiveness, again mixed with great laziness! A Russian person is too lazy to grow or make something that his neighbor has - it is much easier for him to steal it, and even then not himself, but to ask someone else to do it. A typical example of this is the case of the king and rejuvenating apples. Of course, in fairy tales and satirical stories many features are greatly exaggerated and sometimes reach the point of absurdity, but nothing arises out of nowhere - there is no smoke without fire. Such a trait of the Russian character as long-suffering often goes beyond the bounds of reason. From time immemorial, Russian people have resignedly endured humiliation and oppression. The already mentioned laziness and blind faith in a better future are partly to blame here. Russian people would rather endure than fight for their rights. But no matter how great the patience of the people, it is still not limitless. The day comes and humility transforms into unbridled rage. Then woe to anyone who gets in the way. It’s not for nothing that Russian people are compared to a bear.
But not everything is so bad and gloomy in our Fatherland. We Russians have many positive traits character. Russians are deeply partisan and possess high strength spirit, they are able to defend their land to the last drop of blood. Since ancient times, both young and old have risen to fight against invaders.
A special conversation about the character of Russian women. The Russian woman has unbending fortitude, she is ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of loved one and follow him to the ends of the earth. Moreover, this is not blindly following a spouse, like Eastern women, but a completely conscious and independent decision. This is what the wives of the Decembrists did, going after them to distant Siberia and dooming themselves to a life full of hardships. Nothing has changed since then: even now, in the name of love, a Russian woman is ready to spend her entire life wandering around the most remote corners of the world.
Speaking about the peculiarities of the Russian character, one cannot fail to mention the cheerful disposition - a Russian sings and dances even in the most difficult periods of his life, and even more so in joy! He is generous and loves to go out on a grand scale - the breadth of the Russian soul has already become the talk of the town. Only a Russian person can give everything he has for the sake of one happy moment and not regret it later. Let's remember the poor artist who sold everything he had and showered his beloved with flowers. This is a fairy tale, but it is not so far from life - a Russian person is unpredictable and you can expect anything from him.
Russian people have an inherent aspiration for something infinite. Russians always have a thirst for a different life, a different world, they always have dissatisfaction with what they have. Due to greater emotionality, Russian people are characterized by openness and sincerity in communication. If in Europe people are personal life are sufficiently alienated and protect their individualism, then a Russian person is open to being interested in him, showing interest in him, taking care of him, just as he himself is inclined to be interested in the lives of those around him: both his own soul is wide open, and he is curious about what is behind the soul of another.
There are dozens of characters in our literature, each of which bears an indelible stamp of Russian character: Natasha Rostova and Matryona Timofeevna, Platon Karataev and Dmitry Karamazov, Raskolnikov and Melekhov, Onegin and Pechorin, Vasily Terkin and Andrei Sokolov. You can't list them all. Are there really no such people in life? The pilot saves the city at the cost of his life, not leaving the stalled plane until the last moment; tractor driver dies in a burning tractor, taking him away from grain field; a family of nine takes in three more orphaned children; the master spends years creating a unique, priceless masterpiece and then gives it away orphanage... You can continue ad infinitum. Behind all this there is also a Russian character. But aren't other people capable of this? Where is the line that will help distinguish a Russian person from the rest? And there is another side to him: the ability for unbridled revelry and drunkenness, callousness and selfishness, indifference and cruelty. The world looks at him and sees a mystery in him. For us, Russian character is an alloy of the best qualities that will always prevail over dirt and vulgarity, and, perhaps, the most important of them is selflessly devoted love for one’s land. Tenderly stroking a birch tree and talking to it, greedily inhaling the heady aroma of arable land, reverently holding a poured ear of corn in your palm, seeing off a crane wedge with tears in your eyes - only a Russian person can do this, and may he remain like this forever and ever.
The Russian character is complex and multifaceted, but that’s what makes it beautiful. He is beautiful in his breadth and openness, cheerful disposition and love for his homeland, childish innocence and fighting spirit, ingenuity and peacefulness, hospitality and mercy. And we owe this entire palette of the best qualities to our homeland - Russia, a fabulous and great country, warm and affectionate, like the hands of a mother.
From all that has been said, we have to conclude that the only undeniable feature of the Russian character is inconsistency, complexity, and the ability to combine opposites. And is it possible on a land like Russian not to be special? After all, this feature did not appear with us today, but was formed day by day, from year to year, from century to century, from millennium to millennium...
And Leskov tried to create just such a Russian person in his works...