Napoleon6
The Kazakh Writer Abai Kunanbaev
"And I am tortured by a thought: how should I dedicate the rest of my days? What should I do?
Should I try to ameliorate the suffering of my nation? Impossible. The people are uncontrollable. The only ones who traverse that path are those whom fate has condemned to thanklessness and to the curses of mankind; or youth, whose hearts are full of passion and who have not yet tasted the bitterness of defeat. As for me, knowing the truth, preserve me oh Allah from the temptation.
Perhaps I should multiply my flocks? I will not. Let my children, if they so require, multiply the flocks themselves. It would be a sin to waste the last remaining ounces of my strength to ease the existence of thieves, evildoers and beggars.
Should I continue to pursue knowledge? I cannot. I have no one to pass my knowledge to, nor anyone to take it from. What use is it to sit in a desolate desert, trying to sell expensive wares? When you have no one to share your joy and sorrow with, then knowledge itself becomes a burden. It makes a person old before their time.
Maybe I should dedicate myself to faith and religion? It will not do. To have faith one must first have peace. Where will I get piety from when both my emotional state and everyday life lacks all peace? This world doesn't tolerate a pilgrim.
Should I engage in teaching and raising my children? I can't. I would teach them if I knew how and what they should learn and whether any of it is even necessary to the people I see living in today's world. I am unable to imagine them using this knowledge for virtuous goals, and so I cannot see a proper way of educating them.
Finally I have decided: I will take paper and ink as my traveling companions and I will write all of my thoughts. Perhaps one of them will be useful to the reader and he will copy it for himself or simply keep it in his mind. And if not, my words - as they say - will remain with me. "
Abai, Thoughts
The Kazakh Writer Abai Kunanbaev
"And I am tortured by a thought: how should I dedicate the rest of my days? What should I do?
Should I try to ameliorate the suffering of my nation? Impossible. The people are uncontrollable. The only ones who traverse that path are those whom fate has condemned to thanklessness and to the curses of mankind; or youth, whose hearts are full of passion and who have not yet tasted the bitterness of defeat. As for me, knowing the truth, preserve me oh Allah from the temptation.
Perhaps I should multiply my flocks? I will not. Let my children, if they so require, multiply the flocks themselves. It would be a sin to waste the last remaining ounces of my strength to ease the existence of thieves, evildoers and beggars.
Should I continue to pursue knowledge? I cannot. I have no one to pass my knowledge to, nor anyone to take it from. What use is it to sit in a desolate desert, trying to sell expensive wares? When you have no one to share your joy and sorrow with, then knowledge itself becomes a burden. It makes a person old before their time.
Maybe I should dedicate myself to faith and religion? It will not do. To have faith one must first have peace. Where will I get piety from when both my emotional state and everyday life lacks all peace? This world doesn't tolerate a pilgrim.
Should I engage in teaching and raising my children? I can't. I would teach them if I knew how and what they should learn and whether any of it is even necessary to the people I see living in today's world. I am unable to imagine them using this knowledge for virtuous goals, and so I cannot see a proper way of educating them.
Finally I have decided: I will take paper and ink as my traveling companions and I will write all of my thoughts. Perhaps one of them will be useful to the reader and he will copy it for himself or simply keep it in his mind. And if not, my words - as they say - will remain with me. "
Abai, Thoughts