Did Saltykov-Shchedrin say: “When they start talking about patriotism in Russia, you know: something was stolen somewhere”?

The phrase about patriotism and theft in many variations is attributed to Saltykov-Shchedrin. We checked whether these words belong to him.

Quotes from classics often become arguments in political debates. The phrase about patriotism attributed to Saltykov-Shchedrin was mentioned by the former Minister of Economy of the Russian Federation Andrey Nechaev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alfred Koch, State Duma deputy Dmitry Gudkov, politicians Ilya Yashin And Boris Nemtsov, journalist Georgy Bovtas well as writers Lev Rubinstein, Boris Akunin And Mikhail Weller. The phrase is also popular among users social networks And Media.

Saltykov-Shchedrin’s quote about patriotism can be found in various variations: “They began to put pressure on patriotism. Apparently they stole,” “They started talking about patriotism. Apparently, they want to steal something”, “If they started talking about patriotism, it means they either stole or are going to steal”, “Something is pressing hard on patriotism. He probably stole,” etc.

Such a variety of options with the same general meaning suggests that the authors are not quoting the original, but expressing the idea in their own words. It is also suspicious that none of the publications indicate the exact source of the quote. IN collected works None of the phrases appear in Saltykov-Shchedrin. A search for the only common keyword present in all variations - “patriotism” - showed that this word is used in 44 works by Saltykov-Shchedrin, but none of the references is close in meaning to the phrase in question.

One of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s most extensive arguments about patriotism is essay "The Power of Events" He's in it defines false patriotism as a cover for the shameless exploitation of the masses and all possible forms of robbery of the fatherland. Although this idea is somewhat similar in meaning to the quote we are interested in, the tone of the narrative, vocabulary and style of the two statements have nothing in common.

The earliest mention of Saltykov-Shchedrin's pseudo-quote could be found Igor Petrov V article politician Konstantin Borovoy “Personality and the state: who for whom?”, published in 1995 in the collection “Myths and Facts. 50th anniversary of the Victory. Humane values ​​and patriotism”: “There is one feature in such state patriotism, preached by current officials, former and future, that was noticed by Saltykov-Shchedrin: they began to talk about patriotism often, which means they are stealing a lot.” In 2017, Borovoy again used this quote in an interview with Radio Liberty - albeit in a slightly modified form.

Some Internet users quote reminded me lines, written by Saltykov-Shchedrin’s contemporary, poet Alexei Zhemchuzhnikov:

“Having made the trek to nihilism
And looking around, not without gloating,
They went into patriotism
And they set about embezzlement."
(“Into an album of modern portraits”, 1890)

“How did it happen to you one day,
So, apparently, it will continue:
Although not every patriot robs,
But no matter what the thief, he is a patriot.”
(“The Tale of the Stupid Demon and the Wise Patriot”, 1883)

Many authors And analysts they reasoned that calls for patriotism begin to sound when the authorities are trying to cover up their own miscalculations and crimes. Perhaps at some point, from these popular arguments, a phrase in the style of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s satire crystallized, which was later attributed to him.

Image: N.A. Yaroshenko, “Portrait of Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin.” 1886. Source: Arthive

Mostly not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin. Signs of the times. The Power of Events
2. Is it true that Saltykov-Shchedrin said that in Russia they “drink and steal”?
3. Is it true that Leo Tolstoy is the author of the aphorism “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel”?
4. https://labas.livejournal.com/1192237.html