Summary
A chernomyrdinka (Russian: Черномы́рдинка; plural: Черномы́рдинки) or a chernomyrdinism[1] is a quotation, often a malapropism or a gaffe, attributed to the former Russian prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin. Many of them entered the everyday Russian lexicon. The most famous example[2] is "We wanted the best, but it turned out as always", uttered in the context of Russia's efforts in economic reforms, namely the monetary reform in Russia, 1993.[3][4]
Chernomyrdin did not try to be smart, chernomyrdinkas were produced naturally. Even when they sounded funny, people have found a deeper meaning in them.[4] They were produced after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when country leadership, including Chernomyrdin, attempted to speak "not from the paper sheet" (in other words, not in a scripted fashion) and without bureaucratisms typical of the late Soviet Union.[5] Russian journalist Dmitry Travin writes that chernomyrdinkas often reflected the spirit of the epoch better than thick books of writers and philosophers.[6]
Russian writer and satirist Victor Shenderovich is quoted to say that he envies Chernomyrdin: a writer toils hard, but Chernomyrdin just opens his mouth, and here you go: a brilliant quote is here.[7]
The Orenburg gas processing plant, whose first director was Chernomyrdin, on the occasion of its 45th anniversary opened a park dedicated to Chernomyrdin and adorned it with plaques with chernomyrdinkas.[8]
Quotes edit
- "We wanted the best, but it turned out like always." (ru:Хотели как лучше, а получилось как всегда)
- The phrase was uttered on August 6, 1993. Yuri Luzhkov described it as belonging to the golden pool of Russian managerial folklore. The first part of the phrase is a common Russian formula of excuse. Russian culturologist Konstantin Dushenko notes that according to internet statistics by Yandex, of all utterances by Russian politicians, this one is the runner-up after the "Putinism" Dunk them in toilets.[9] A similar phrase is traced to Pyotr Kropotkin: "The state [...] wanted to do the best, but it turned out as always."[10]
- "It has never been like this and now it is exactly the same again." (Отродясь такого не бывало, и опять то же самое;[2] commonly cited as: Никогда такого не было, и вот опять)[11]
- "Better than vodka, there is nothing worse." (Лучше водки — хуже нет!) [4]
- "Whatever party we establish, it always turns out to be the Soviet Communist Party or the Kalashnikov rifle"[11]
- "You can't scare a woman with high-heeled shoes."[4][1]
- "We have accomplished all items: from A to B." (Мы выполнили все пункты: от А до Б)[1]
- "I will not speak much, otherwise I will say something again" (Много говорить не буду, а то опять чего-нибудь скажу)[2]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "Russia’s Yogi Berra", Foreign Policy, November 4, 2010
- ^ a b c d "Бессмертные фразы Виктора Черномырдина", Rossiyskaya Gazeta, November 2, 2013
- ^ Barry, Ellen & Schwirtz, Michael (3 November 2010). "Viktor Chernomyrdin, Ex-Russian Premier, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Viktor Chernomyrdin, globalsecurity.org
- ^ "ЯЗЫК МОЙ - ВРАГ МОЙ?", by Maksim Krongauz, Новый мир. - М., 2002, № 10)
- ^ "Виктор Черномырдин: Человек эпохи", by Dmitry Travin, fontanka.ru, November 11, 2020
- ^ "Константин Душенко, автор книги "Цитаты из русской истории от призвания варягов до наших дней"" Radio Liberty
- ^ "На Оренбургском газоперерабатывающем заводе открыт сквер памяти Виктора Черномырдина"
- ^ "Мы хотели как лучше..." Archived 2014-11-06 at the Wayback Machine, by Konstantin Dushenko
- ^ "Философия обыденного языка .На смерть политика и афориста", by Pavel Kostylev, Russian Journal, April 11, 2010
- ^ a b "Viktor Chernomyrdin", an obituary, The Economist