Kozma Prutkov

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The image of Kozma Prutkov was a biting satire on arrogant and bombastic imperial bureaucrats.

Kozma Prutkov (Russian: ) is a fictional author invented by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy and three Zhemchuzhnikov brothers - Alexei, Vladimir and Alexander during the later part of Nicholas I of Russia's authoritarian reign.

The four distinguished satirical poets used this pseudonym as a collective pen name to publish aphorisms, fables, epigrams, satiric, humorous and nonsense verses in the 1850s—1860s, most notably in the literary magazine "Sovremennik" (The Contemporary).

According to the "Biographical information on Kozma Prutkov" ([Биографические сведения о Козьме Пруткове], 1884), Prutkov was born on April 11, 1803 and died on January 13, 1863.

He worked for the government of the Russian Empire his entire adult life. In 1820, Prutkov entered military service as a Hussar only for the uniform. He worked at the Measuring Office (Пробирная Палатка) from 1823 until his death, ending up as its director.

Quotes

• "Throwing pebbles into the water, look at the ripples they form on the surface, otherwise, such occupation becomes an idle pastime."
• "Where is the beginning of the end that comes at the end of the beginning?"
• "If you have a fountain, shut it up. Let even a fountain have a rest."
• "If ever asked: What's more useful, the sun or the moon, respond: The moon. For the sun only shines during daytime, when it's light anyway, whereas the Moon shines at night."
• "One can not embrace unembraceable."
• "Be vigilant!"
• "Wanna be handsome - enroll in hussars."
• "When on an elephant cage you see a sign "bison" - do not trust your eyes."

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