Many of us are reading the adventures of the «Russian Sherlock Holmes» — the detective Erast Fandorin. 10 quotes from a new book about him easily add up to an imaginary interview with the author and his character.
Wise thoughts can be found not only in philosophical works, but also in adventure novels. They help you better understand your life, resolve the difficulty, find the right solution, and, finally, just feel smarter. After reading three stories by Boris Akunin, collected in the book Planet Water, we selected several aphoristic statements from them.
When things don’t go our way, we feel overwhelmed or overwhelmed. Is there a way to regain your composure?
The best way to pull yourself together when disaster strikes is to focus on solving the problems it has created. Misfortune always creates problems, that’s what misfortune is for.
- Why am I afraid of very «adults»
What is the difference between a smart person and a stupid person?
A smart and adult (which, in principle, the same thing) person differs from an unintelligent or non-adult person in that he is clearly aware of the motives of his actions. And, of course, he foresees their consequences.
What do you see as the main danger to society?
The worst thing in the world is when a lot of very good people are ignited by a very bad idea. On the contrary, alas, it does not happen …
Is it possible to resolve conflicts in the world by creating a single government?
The world cannot be one. It cannot be controlled by one will, from a single center. He’s alive, you know? Contradictions and multidirectional movements, conflicts of interest are necessary for growth and development.
But in order for development to go in the right direction, shouldn’t it be kept under control?
It is possible to help everything useful and interfere with everything dangerous. But you can’t control everything. Unless with the help of total coercion and fear. However, this structure is fragile and short-lived… No one can be favored by force.
Why so?
Such gifts will be perceived as aggression and rejected.
What can each of us do for the good of others?
A noble man is not required to save all things. He is only obliged to do what he could, and then how it will turn out.
And yet our efforts sometimes fail…
Defeat is easier to bear if you know that you will die now. It is much harder if it turns out that you have to live with defeat …
- Where can I borrow some patience?
And what can help us then?
In a difficult situation, two things are needed: patience and determination. It is only required to correctly combine the first with the second.
Is it okay for a man to cry?
Western men believe that crying is a sign of weakness, they are weaned from this noble habit from childhood. Nonsense! You can’t cry from shameful things — pain or fear, but from elevated feelings you can and should.
B. Akunin «Planet Water: The Adventures of Erast Fandorin in the 2015th Century» (Zakharov, XNUMX).