A chernomyrdinka (; plural: Черномы́рдинки) or a chernomyrdinism[ "Russia’s Yogi Berra", Foreign Policy, November 4, 2010] is a quotation, often a malapropism or a gaffe, attributed to the former Russian prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin. Many of them entered the everyday Russian lexicon. The most famous example[ is "We wanted the best, but it turned out as always", uttered in the context of Russia's efforts in economic reforms, namely the monetary reform in Russia, 1993.][ Viktor Chernomyrdin, globalsecurity.org'']
Chernomyrdin did not try to be smart, chernomyrdinki were produced naturally. Even when they sounded funny, people have found a deeper meaning in them.[ They were produced after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when country leadership, including Chernomyrdin, attempted to speak "not from the paper sheet" (in other words, not in a scripted fashion) and without bureaucratisms typical of the late Soviet Union.][ "ЯЗЫК МОЙ - ВРАГ МОЙ?", by Maksim Krongauz, Новый мир. - М., 2002, № 10)] Russian journalist writes that chernomyrdinki often reflected the spirit of the epoch better than thick books of writers and philosophers.[ "Виктор Черномырдин: Человек эпохи", by Dmitry Travin, fontanka.ru, November 11, 2020]
Russian writer and satirist Victor Shenderovich is quoted to say that he envies Chernomyrdin: a writer toils hard, but Chernomyrdin just opens his mouth, and here you go: a brilliant quote is here.[ "Константин Душенко, автор книги "Цитаты из русской истории от призвания варягов до наших дней"" Radio Liberty]
The , whose first director was Chernomyrdin, on the occasion of its 45th anniversary opened a park dedicated to Chernomyrdin and adorned it with plaques with chernomyrdinki.[ "На Оренбургском газоперерабатывающем заводе открыт сквер памяти Виктора Черномырдина"]
Quotes
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"We wanted the best, but it turned out like always." (Хотели как лучше, а получилось как всегда)
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: The phrase was uttered on August 6, 1993. Yuri Luzhkov described it as belonging to the golden pool of Russian managerial folklore. The first part of the phrase is a common Russian formula of excuse. Russian culturologist Konstantin Dushenko notes that according to internet statistics by Yandex, of all utterances by Russian politicians, this one is the runner-up after the Putinisms .
[ "Мы хотели как лучше..." , by Konstantin Dushenko] A similar phrase is traced to Pyotr Kropotkin: "The state ... wanted to do the best, but it turned out as always."[ "Философия обыденного языка .На смерть политика и афориста", by Pavel Kostylev, Russian Journal, April 11, 2010]
- : We Wanted the Best... is also the title of a book about Chernomyrdin and the Yeltsin epoch.
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"This has never happened before, and now it's happening again." (Отродясь такого не бывало, и опять то же самое;
[ "Бессмертные фразы Виктора Черномырдина", Rossiyskaya Gazeta, November 2, 2013] commonly cited as: Никогда такого не было, и вот опять)[ "Viktor Chernomyrdin", an obituary, The Economist]
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"Better than vodka, there is nothing worse." (Лучше водки — хуже нет!)
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"Whatever party we establish, it always turns out to be the Soviet Communist Party or the Kalashnikov rifle"
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"You can't scare a woman with high-heeled shoes."
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"We have accomplished all items: from A to B." (Мы выполнили все пункты: от А до Б)
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"I will not speak much, otherwise I will say something again" (Много говорить не буду, а то опять чего-нибудь скажу)
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See also
External links
