Chekhov and the eight qualities of a cultured man

What does it mean to be "cultured"? Is it about being a good reader, or knowing how to talk about books you haven't read, or having a generally intellectual nature? This is exactly the question that the Russian author, Chekhov (Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, 1860-1904), poses in a letter addressed to his older brother Nikolai, who was an artist. The letter written when Antoni was 26 and Nikolai 28, in 1886 is as follows:

You often complained to me that people "don't understand"! Goethe and Newton did not complain about this... Only Christ did, but he was not talking about himself, but about his doctrine... People understand you well enough. But it's not their fault if you don't understand yourself.

I assure you, as a brother and as a friend, that I understand you and have you in my heart. I know your good qualities as I know the fingers of my hand: I value and respect them greatly. If you will try to understand me, I can list these qualities.

I think you are very good in terms of gentleness, magnanimity, unselfishness, ready to share even the last penny: you have no envy or hatred; You are kind-hearted, you feel pity for every kind of being, you are trustworthy, without grudges and tricks, and you do not hold grudges... you have been given a gift from above that others do not have: you have talent.

This talent sets you apart from millions of people, in this world only one in two million is an artist. Talent is what makes you special: Even if you were an amphibian or a spider, even then people would respect, because the talented are justified and everything is forgiven.

You have only one flaw, which is due to the falsity of your attitude, your unhappiness and inner irritation. This is a total lack of culture in you. Please, forgive me but (veritas magis amicitiae)…

You see, life has its conditions. To feel comfortable among educated people, to feel contented and at home, one must be cultured to a certain extent. Talent has brought you into this circle, to which you belong, but... you have moved away from it and you hesitate among the educated people and the residents opposite.

In my opinion, cultured people must fulfill the following conditions:

– They respect human personalities, and on the spot, they are always loving, kind and ready to do for others. They don't fight over a hammer or because they lose a piece of rubber; if they live with others they don't take it as an honor and when they leave, they don't say "no one could live with you." They cope with noise, coldness, sharp remarks and the presence of strangers in the house.

– They do not have compassion only for beggars or homeless cats. Their hearts ache for what the eye cannot see… they get up at night to help… to pay for their brothers who are in college, and buy clothes for their mother.

– They respect the space of others and repay their obligations.

- They are honest, and they fear lies like fire. They don't lie even about the smallest things. A lie is offensive to the hearer and lowers him in the eyes of the speaker. They do not pretend, they behave on the street as at home, and do not brag to modest friends. They are not fond of gibberish and forcing others on their beliefs. Behind the other's back, they prefer to remain silent rather than speak.

– They do not lower their values ​​to arouse sympathy. They don't play with people's heartstrings so that later they sigh and feel regret. They don't say "I was misunderstood" or "I was neglected", because all this effort is vulgar, empty, false...

– They have no shallow pride. They don't want to know about fake diamonds like celebrity acquaintances, to shake hands with "P" [probably Palm, inaudible poet] drunk, to hear the enthusiasm of a lost spectator in a picture shows, tavern acquaintances... If they do something small, they don't brag about it as if they had donated something worth 100 rubles, and they don't boast that they have reached where others have not been accepted... Those who are really talented, always lean towards the crowd, as far as possible from advertising... Even Krivoli has said that an empty barrel echoes more than a full one.

– If they have a talent, they respect it. They sacrifice it for others, wife, wine, pride... They are proud of their talent.

- They develop the aesthetic sense in themselves. They cannot sleep in their clothes, see the cracks in the walls full of insects, breathe bad air, walk on a street with spit, cook their meals in stale oil. They seek as much as possible to subdue and ennoble the sexual instincts... they do not want a woman as a bedfellow... they do not seek the intelligence that manifests itself in a constant lie. If they are artists, they want in particular, freshness, elegance, humanity and capacity for motherhood... They don't roll vodka at all hours of the day and night, they don't search the shelves, they are not pigs and they know they are not. They drink only when they are free, on occasion... What they want is a healthy mind in a healthy body (mens sana in corpe sano).

And so on. That's how cultured people are. To be cultured and not to be below the level of those around you, it is not enough to have read the "Pickwick Club Papers" and to have learned a monologue from "Faust"...

What is needed is constant work, day and night, constant reading, study, willpower...

Every hour is valuable... come to us, break the vodka bottle, lie down and read... Turgenev, if you liked it, which you haven't read.

You have to let go of your pride, you are not a child… you will soon be 30 years old.

It's time!

I expect from you… everyone expects from you.