12 Truthful fabrications (Absurdist delights)

When Fyodor Dostoevsky began writing his famous early work "Poor People", he thought: “I wonder why the gap in income between the poor and the rich is so great?” He went with this question to the great Gogol, since the even greater Pushkin had already been killed. Gogol was not a Marxist, and answered truthfully: "The population growth is to blame: the poor breed so hard that the rich cannot keep up with them".

Gorky decided to study at least the basics of philosophy, but he understood nothing. He had to go to Tolstoy. "Lev," he addressed him, "you are not only a classic writer, but also a great religious philosopher. Describe, so that I can understand, the difference between possibility and reality." Tolstoy thought for a moment, then said: "The most understandable thing for you, a former tramp, will be this: possibility is more pleasant than reality, but - alas! - it is impossible to linger in it."

As something some visitors of the house of Leo Tolstoy in Yasnaya Polyana (Clear Glade) asked to explain the difference between optimists and pessimists. "Contrary to popular belief," - replied the classic, - " the difference is not so great as it seems to many. If you think about their essence, it becomes clear that the optimist is inclined to commit stupidity, especially without thinking about it, whereas the pessimist is inclined to stupidity only after serious reflections."