In time I came to understand that out of the misery and murk of their lives the Russian people had learned to make sorrow a diversion, to play with it like a child's toy; seldom are they diffident about showing their happiness. And so, through their tedious weekdays, they made a carnival of grief; a fire is entertainment; and on a vacant face a bruise becomes an adornment.


Autobiography (1913). Childhood

Maxim Gorky Quotes

In time I came to understand that out of the misery and murk of their lives the Russian people had learned to make sorrow a diversion, to play with...

In time I came to understand that out of the misery and murk of their lives the Russian people had learned to make sorrow a diversion, to play with...

In time I came to understand that out of the misery and murk of their lives the Russian people had learned to make sorrow a diversion, to play with...

In time I came to understand that out of the misery and murk of their lives the Russian people had learned to make sorrow a diversion, to play with...