Anton Chekhov was one of the greatest writers of Russian literature; their stories, in particular, have marked a before and after in all Western countries; their greatest virtue was to give relevance to the behavior of their characters and to the interaction between them, on the other hand. of the argument of the story itself.
So he was a great observer of human behavior. It had the ability to capture an atmosphere with absolute realism and highlight those details that for other authors would go unnoticed. His intention was not moralistic, but nevertheless, in his inheritance there is a letter he addressed to his older brother in which he indicated a series. Advice.
- The letter was written during one of his stays in Moscow.
- In which Chekhov collects what he considers the characteristics of truly educated people; in addition.
- It is a text that serves as a guide and guide on the highest virtues of human beings.
- We’ll show you what this advice is and share parts of your text.
For Chekhov, truly educated people: “Respect the human personality and, therefore, always be kind, gentle, courteous and willing to yield to others. [?] If you live with someone, you don’t think they’re favorable and go, don’t say “no one could live with you. “
A hallmark of high culture is consideration in relationships with others, no matter how different people are, is no excuse for initiating a conflict or being abused, in fact it is prudent to avoid conflict and walk away if contradictions are unrecognizable. .
Chekhov stated that educated people: “Have sympathy not only for beggars and cats. Does your heart suffer so your eyes don’t see?. This means that they are very sensitive to the suffering of others, even if they do not express it. “.
A high level of culture means a high level of understanding for people who suffer. Including the word? Culture? Derived from Latin?Cultus? And it means “cultivating the human spirit. ” A cultured person is not indifferent to the pain of his fellowmen.
With regard to material goods, Chekhov says that educated people “respect other people’s property and therefore pay their debts. “Initially, acquiring a debt requires a good faith pact. One person lends money to another in the hope that it will. returned on terms and within the agreed timeframe.
The way a person manages their debts reveals a lot of their personality, they acquire exceptionally and according to a real need and are paid religiously, because in the end it is the word.
As for lies and pretensions, truly educated people, according to Chekhov, have the following characteristics: “They are sincere and afraid to lie like fire. They don’t even lie about the little things. A lie means insulting the listener and putting him in a lower position in the speaker’s eyes.
They do not appear: they behave on the street at home and do not judge their friends more humble, they are not sensitive to rumors, nor do they force others to be impertinent confidences, out of respect for other people’s ears, they shut up more often than they speak.
Lying and pretension are a form of fraud with others, sincerity, on the other hand, is a way of expressing respect for others, authenticity, in turn, is a sign of self-esteem and dignity, yet rumors and gossip should not be on someone’s agenda, since these attitudes are a way of disparageing others.
For Chekhov, a cultured person moves away from victimization behavior, which is also a face of deception. On this subject, he said: “Don’t despise yourself for pitying you. Don’t squeeze other people’s heart cords so tightly. complain and do something (or much) for them. ?
Sowing compassion in others can bring visible benefits immediately, but in the long run, it turns out to be a bad strategy, reflecting only your lack of self-respect and fueling mistrust in others.
Chekhov draws attention to the mistakes that arise when a person has more money or power than others. On this point, he says: “They have no superfluous vanity. [?] If they make a few cents, don’t strut like they are. “are worth hundreds of rubles, and don’t brag about the power to go to places where others aren’t accepted?.
Creating a feeling of superiority, for reasons as ephemeral and risky as money or social privileges, is just a sign of poor development, this type of person gives more value to having than to be and depends entirely on external factors to be valued. .
Every person in the world has their own talent. A big part of the task in life is to discover and cultivate it. Chekhov said everyone is educated: “If you have a talent, you respect it. Sacrifice rest, women, wine, vanity [?] Are you proud of your talent?
Talent is one of the great treasures of the human being, you don’t have to be a famous artist or a successful businessman to say you have talent, sometimes this gift is in small things, such as knowing how to appreciate others or being able to understand or help. When you discover your own talent, it is necessary to give it the maximum value and make an effort to develop it.
Chekhov said that everyone who is cultured: “Develops aesthetic intuition by himself. ” They aim as far as possible to contain and ennoble the sexual instinct. [?] They want, especially if they are artists, freshness, elegance, humanity and the capacity for motherhood. [?] Do not drink vodka all the time, day and night, you do not smell the cupboards because they are not pigs and you know not.
These statements are a call to control and a voice of rejection in the face of physical and biological excesses. Human beings are not organisms, but people who can and should make sense of what they do, including the most basic actions.