Мертві душі
Chapter 3
ForinthatcharactertherehasdawnedasortofQuixotismwhichneverusedtobethere.Yes,nosoonerdoesamangetalittleeducationintohisheadthanhebecomesaDonQuixote,andestablishesschoolsonhisestatesuchasevenamadmanwouldneverhavedreamedof.Andfromthatschoolthereissuesaworkmanwhoisgoodfornothing,whetherinthecountryorinthetown—afellowwhodrinksandisforeverstandingonhisdignity.Yetstillourlandownerskeeptakingtophilanthropy,toconvertingthemselvesintophilanthropicknights-errant,andspendingmillionsuponsenselesshospitalsandinstitutions,andsoruiningthemselvesandturningtheirfamiliesadrift.Yes,thatisallthatcomesofphilanthropy.”
Chichikov’sbusinesshadnothingtodowiththespreadofenlightenment,hewasbutseekinganopportunitytoinquirefurtherconcerningtheputtingofrefusetolucrativeuses;butKostanzhoglowouldnotlethimgetawordinedgeways,soirresistiblydidtheflowofsarcasticcommentpourfromthespeaker’slips.
“Yes,”wentonKostanzhoglo,“folkarealwaysschemingtoeducatethepeasant.Butfirstmakehimwell-offandagoodfarmer.THENhewilleducatehimselffastenough.Asthingsarenow,theworldhasgrownstupidtoadegreethatpassesbelief.Lookatthestuffourpresent-dayscribblerswrite!Letanysortofabookbepublished,andatonceyouwillseeeveryonemakingarushforit.Similarlywillyoufindfolksaying:‘Thepeasantleadsanover-simplelife.Heoughttobefamiliarisedwithluxuries,andsoledtoyearnforthingsabovehisstation.
