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102 PROBLEMS CONFRONTING RUSSIA
and creative, while Russian intellectuality excels in criticism.
Englishmen often are so much engaged in reaching the
practical end in view as quickly as possible that they do not always
attain the best possible results. Russian endeavour, on the
contrary, is often deficient in attaining that result which
under the circumstances, although not representing
perfection, is the only possible solution. The English are more
ready to compromise, thus proving their statesmanlike spirit,
while Russians are possessed with a craving for the ideal.
Russians desire to comprehend a subject from every point
of view, as completely as can be imagined. This excessive
introspection hampers action. The Russian lingers and
delays in true Hamlet fashion. Russians have always seen
in Hamlet a type of their own national character. On the
contrary, Englishmen think there is "no time like the
present," and they recognize that " the tide in the affairs
of men " should be " taken at the flood." They strive to be
ready for their opportunity, and this was rightly described
by Gladstone as the " secret of success." How opposite
is the underlying significance of Russian proverbs such as :
" Business is not a bear, it will not escape into the wood " ;
or, " Before crossing the water first discover the ford."
This shows the standpoint of the Russian towards action.
He is all for circumspection and reflection. Russian
literature is full of descriptions of types of " cunctators." The
Russian expression for being in the act of doing something
is a verb which means " to gather oneself," implying a
somewhat complicated process. It is pulling oneself
together—a collecting, as it were, of coat, hat, goloshes,
latchkey, and so on, before the stage of readiness to go out can be
reached. The example of English reckless energy would
certainly benefit the too-contemplative Russian, who often
misses his chances. Vice versa, the Russian capacity of
criticism may serve as a wholesome corrective to too great
impetuosity of action.
The view taken by the British and by Russians of time and
space is vastly different. Russians seem sometimes to
overlook that very real entity which has been called, not without
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