Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Letters of Anton Chekhov to His Family and Friends with biographical sketchor exaggerate, but simply express our delight, just as a mother doesnot lie when she calls her child “my golden one.” It is the feeling ofbeauty that speaks in us, and beauty cannot endure what is commonplaceand trivial; it induces us to make comparisons whichVolodya may, with his intellect, pull to pieces, but which he willunderstand with his heart. For instance, it is usual to compare blackeyes with the night, blue with the azure of the sky, curls with waves,etc., and even the Bible likes these comparisons; for instance, “Thywomb is more spacious than heaven,” or “The Sun of righteousnessarises,” “The rock of faith,” etc. The feeling of beauty in man knowsno limits or bounds. This is why a Russian prince may be called“the lord of the world”; and my friend Volodya may have the samename, for names are given to people, not for their merits, but inhonour and commemoration of remarkable men of the past …. Ifyour young scholar does not agree with me, I have one more argumentwhich will be sure to appeal to him: in exalting people even toGod we do not sin against love, but, on the contrary, we express it.One must not humiliate people—that is the chief thing. Better sayto man “My angel” than hurl “Fool” at his head—though men aremore like fools than they are like angels.54