On Russian Drunkenness, Laziness, and Cruelty

People tend to think of themselves well. Usually even better than they actually are. This applies to entire nations, always trying to form the most positive opinion of themselves. But not to the Russians, who, with amazing masochism, cultivate the most negative stereotypes about themselves, citing the classics: all, they say, "drink", "steal" (Karamzin), "are lazy and uncurious" (Pushkin), want everything to be done for them, like Emelya, "by the wave of a magic wand"...

So is all this true or myths? Where did it come from? Did they come up with it themselves or did someone suggest it? Do these statements have any historical basis and what is it? And how are the same problems dealt with by the "Civilized" Europe and America? And most importantly - what is the danger of such remarkable self-deprecation for the modern SPIRIT OF THE NATION, for our present life?

Let us delve into our history and try to examine the most persistent, most vivid, and most absurd MYTHS ABOUT RUSSIA.

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