As far as I know, incidentally, there isn’t a specific Russian word for “bumpersticker.” The word \u043d\u0430\u043a\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430<\/b> means “adhesive sticker applied for decoration” or “a decal”. And the term \u0430\u0432\u0442\u043e\u043d\u0430\u043a\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430<\/b> is a “car decal,” but it can refer to large ones that are intended for the rear windshield or doors.<\/p>\n Anyway, on with the list.<\/p>\n For free-speech supporters and those with generally libertarian sentiments, here’s a classic from \u0415\u043a\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430 II (\u0412\u0435\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043a\u0430\u044f)<\/b> (Catherine II, aka the Great):<\/p>\n 1. \u0421 \u0438\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u044f\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u043d\u0435 \u0432\u043e\u044e<\/span>\u044e\u0442.<\/b> Grammar point: after verbs that mean “to fight,” such as \u0432\u043e\u0435\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b>, the adversary\/foe can be expressed either with \u0441 \u043a\u0435\u043c\/\u0447\u0435\u043c<\/b> (instrumental) or \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0442\u0438\u0432 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e\/\u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/b> (genitive). So \u00ab\u041f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0432 \u0438\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0439 \u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u043d\u0435 \u0432\u043e\u044e<\/span>\u044e\u0442\u00bb<\/b> would mean the same thing, but it loses the semi-rhyme of \u00ab\u0438\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u044f\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430\u043c\u0438\u00bb<\/b>.<\/p>\n Of course, while \u0415\u043a\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430 \u0412\u0435\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043a\u0430\u044f<\/b> really was a personal admirer of the European Enlightenment and a regular pen-pal of Voltaire, at home she was far from libertarian, and historians have criticized her unwillingness to take any steps towards the ending of serfdom.<\/p>\n 2. \u0415<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438 \u043b\u044e\u0434\u043e\u0435<\/span>\u0434 \u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0437\u0443\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0432\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u0438 \u043d\u043e\u0436\u043e<\/span>\u043c \u2014 \u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u0432\u0435 \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0433\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0441?<\/b> Don’t forget that the verb \u043f\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0437\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/b> (“to use”) takes an instrumental object, while the synonymous verbs \u0438\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0437\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b> and \u0443\u043f\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0431\u043b\u044f\u0442\u044c\/\u0443\u043f\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0431\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> take the accusative.<\/p>\n This observation about well-mannered cannibals is one of the all-time pithiest quotes by Polish writer \u0421\u0442\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0441\u043b\u0430\u0432 \u0415\u0436\u0438 \u041b\u0435\u0446<\/b> (Stanis\u0142aw Jerzy Lec), a highly prolific author of quips and aphorisms who gets nine full pages at this excellent Russian-language collection of notable quotes<\/a>. (But don’t confuse him with Polish sci-fi writer \u0421\u0442\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0441\u043b\u0430\u0432 \u041b\u0435\u043c<\/b> (Stanis\u0142aw Lem), best known for Solaris<\/i>.)<\/p>\n As I said, Mr. Lec offers a goldmine of clever observations to choose from, but here’s another one of his that I like:<\/p>\n 3. \u0414\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0435 \u0438\u0437 \u043c\u0435\u0447\u0442\u044b<\/span><\/a> \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e \u0441\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0432\u0430\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u044c\u0435, \u0435<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438 \u0434\u043e\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0444\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0432 \u0438 \u0441\u0430<\/span>\u0445\u0430\u0440\u0443.<\/b> Or, as we might say in English, “Your good intentions plus fifty cents will buy you a cup of coffee.”<\/p>\n The remaining slogans in the post are of less certain authorship — some came from an online list credited to Ukrainian-born satirist \u041c\u0438\u0445\u0430\u0438\u043b \u0416\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0435\u0446\u043a\u0438\u0439<\/b><\/a>, but it wasn’t clear to me if he originated all of them or just liked to quote them.<\/p>\n 4. \u041b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e \u0430\u0432\u0442\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044f \u0445\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0442 \u0434\u043e \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0446\u0430<\/span> \u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u0438, \u0435<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438 \u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u043e\u0447\u043d\u043e \u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0445\u043e.<\/b> Depending on the context, the adjective \u043b\u0438\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0439<\/b> can mean either “daring; showing bravado” or “excessively reckless.” And the noun \u043b\u0438\u0445\u0430<\/span>\u0447<\/b> means “a reckless driver.” Also, as a point of grammar, let’s take a closer look at this phrase:<\/p>\n \u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e \u0430\u0432\u0442\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044f \u0445\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0442<\/b><\/p>\n Here, the verb \u0445\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c\/\u0445\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b>, “to suffice, be enough” is in its 3rd-singular future perfect form — “it will be enough” — although we can use a present-tense construction in English. And the person\/thing\/substance that there is enough of is expressed with the genitive — thus, \u0430\u0432\u0442\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044f<\/b>. Also, for example, \u041c\u043d\u0435 \u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0438 \u043d\u0435 \u0445\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0430\u0435\u0442<\/b>, “I don’t have enough time,” literally “It isn’t enough of time for me.”<\/p>\n If, like me, you are prone to \u00ab\u0442\u044f\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c \u043a\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/b> (i.e., to procrastinate<\/a>), here’s a bumper-aphorism that may motivate you to carpe diem:<\/p>\n 5. \u0412 \u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u043c \u0438\u0437 \u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0441 \u0441\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442 \u0433\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0439. \u0418 \u0441 \u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u044b\u043c \u0434\u043d\u0451\u043c \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u043a\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043f\u0447\u0435…<\/b> The language in this one is simple and straightforward. However, take note of the phrase \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u043a\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043f\u0447\u0435<\/b>. Generally speaking, using \u0432\u0441\u0451<\/b> with an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree<\/i> gives the meaning “all the more X” or “more and more X-ly.” Thus, \u0440\u0435\u0436\u0435<\/b> is “rarer” or “more rarely”, and \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u0440\u0435\u0436\u0435<\/b> would be “more and more rarely.”<\/p>\n 6. \u041a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044e<\/span>\u043c “\u0415<\/span>\u0432\u044b” \u043c\u043d\u0435 \u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0438\u0434\u0451\u0442, \u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u0443\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0435-\u0433\u0434\u0435.<\/b> Presumably, this would be on a car driven by a woman — for a male driver, it would be \u043a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044e<\/span>\u043c “\u0410<\/span>\u0434\u0430\u043c\u0430”<\/b> (“an Adam suit”), but otherwise the phrasing stays exactly the same. And what about that pronoun \u043a\u043e\u0435-\u0433\u0434\u0435<\/b>? Essentially, it means the same thing as \u0432 \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0440\u044b\u0445 \u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0445<\/b>, “in certain places.” And, in general, when the prefix \u043a\u043e\u0435-<\/b> is attached to an interrogative pronoun, it adds the meaning of “certain ones” or “some, but not all”.<\/p>\n \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span>-\u0442\u043e<\/b> — “at some time; once” In other words, \u043a\u043e\u0435-<\/b> is a bit less definite than the suffix -\u0442\u043e<\/b>, but a bit more definite than -\u043d\u0438\u0431\u0443\u0434\u044c<\/b>.<\/p>\n 7. \u041e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e, \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> \u0442\u0432\u043e\u0438<\/span> \u043c\u0435\u0447\u0442\u044b<\/span> \u0441\u0431\u044b\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0443 \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433\u0438<\/span>\u0445!<\/b> Note that \u043e\u0431\u0438\u0436\u0430\u0442\u044c\/\u043e\u0431\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0442\u044c<\/b> is “to offend,” and \u043e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e<\/b> can therefore mean “offensive.” But sometimes, as here, it’s better translated with such English expressions as “It’s annoying”, “It’s frustrating”, “It gets on your nerves”, etc.<\/p>\n 8. \u0427\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430\u044f \u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u2013 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043a \u043f\u043b\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0439 \u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u044f\u0442\u0438.<\/b> Once again, the grammar is quite simple. I chose this one not only because it’s wryly funny, but because I sometimes get \u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/b>, “conscience”, mixed up with \u0441\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435<\/b>, “consciousness.” Here are a few related expressions:<\/p>\n \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/b> — on one’s conscience (\u042d\u0442\u043e \u043b\u0435\u0436\u0438\u0442 \u043d\u0430 \u043c\u043e\u0435\u0439 \u0441\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438, This weighs on my conscience.) 9. \u0421\u043a\u0443\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0439 \u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0442 \u0434\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u044b, \u0442\u0443\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0439 \u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0442 \u0442\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u044b. \u041b\u043e<\/span>\u0445 \u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0442 \u0432\u0441\u044e<\/span> \u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u044c.<\/b> First, this is really an extended version of the older saying \u0441\u043a\u0443\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0439 \u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0442 \u0434\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u044b<\/b>, “a stingy person pays twice” — i.e., buying a cheap made-in-China product may cost you more money in the long run. The word \u0442\u0443\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0439<\/b> means “dull; blunt” in the context of a knife, or “obtuse” in reference to angles greater than 90\u00b0, but “stupid” when you’re talking about a person. (Also, note the noun \u0442\u0443\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0446\u0430<\/b>, “a dimwit,” which looks feminine but is totally unisex and can take either masculine or feminine verbs and adjectives.)<\/p>\n And the slang term \u043b\u043e\u0445<\/b>, from what I’ve been told, originally meant “bumpkin; hick; hayseed”, but now it has the more general meaning of “sucker” in the sense of “an easy target for a con-artist” — regardless of whether the person is from the country or the city. Thus — don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish, but don’t be plain foolish, and don’t be a dupe for slick sales-talk.<\/p>\n And finally, no list of bumpersticker slogans would be complete without something a bit \u0441\u043a\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/b> (“vulgar”). Here’s one that’s rather off-color, but still very good advice:<\/p>\n 10. \u0415<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438 \u0442\u0435\u0431\u0435<\/span> \u043b\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u0438 \u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0434, \u043d\u0435 \u0440\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043b\u0430\u0431\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u044f \u2013 \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u0441\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u043a\u0430!<\/b><\/p>\n The verb \u043b\u0438\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\/\u043b\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> is “to lick” (imperf. \u044f \u043b\u0438\u0436\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0448\u044c<\/b>; perf. \u044f \u043b\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u043b\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0451\u0448\u044c<\/b>). The noun \u0437\u0430\u0434<\/b> generally means “the rear; the back part”, but here it’s a nicer way of saying \u0436\u043e\u043f\u0430<\/b><\/a>. \u0420\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043b\u0430\u0431\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u044c\/\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0431\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> is literally “to seriously weaken”, but in the reflexive -\u0441\u044f<\/b> form it can mean “to relax”. And \u0441\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u043a\u0430<\/b> is “grease” or “lubricant”. So the whole thing could be rendered:<\/p>\n When they’re kissing your butt, don’t let your guard down — it’s just for lubrication!<\/p>\n Ouch!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Are you getting tired of telling the driver behind you to Save the Pygmy Hippos? Or maybe you’re thinking that it’s time to scrape off that Re-Elect Carter 1980 bumper-sticker? Well, allow me to offer 10 Russian \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0442\u044b (“aphorisms; witticisms; quips”) that’d be perfect for a custom-made bumper-sticker. Or a (\u043d\u0430\u0433\u0440\u0443\u0434\u043d\u044b\u0439) \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0447\u043e\u043a (“pin-on lapel button”)…<\/p>\n
\nIdeas are not to be fought with cannons.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2013\/03\/cannibal_fork_knife.gif\")
<\/a>(I made this one myself. I hope the figures in the image are recognizable at this resolution!)<\/div>\n
\nIf a cannibal uses a fork and knife — is that progress?<\/p>\n
\nYou can make jam out of nothing but a daydream, so long as you add a bit of fruit and sugar.<\/p>\n
\nAny car can last for the rest of your life, if you drive recklessly enough.<\/p>\n
\nIn each and every one of us, Genius sleeps. And with each passing day, it sleeps all the more soundly…<\/p>\n
\nI look really good in my Eve costume (i.e., “birthday suit”) — it just needs to be taken in here and there.<\/p>\n
\n\u043a\u043e\u0435-\u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span><\/b> — “at certain times; now and then”
\n\u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span>-\u043d\u0438\u0431\u0443\u0434\u044c<\/b> — “at any time; ever”<\/p>\n<\/a>Another one that I made with Photoshop<\/div>\n
\nIt’s so annoying when your fantasies come true for other people!<\/p>\n
\nA clean conscience is a symptom that your memory is faulty.<\/p>\n
\n\u043d\u0430 \u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/b> — conscientiously (\u041e\u043d\u0430 \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0432\u044b\u043f\u043e\u043b\u043d\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u044c\u0431\u0443, She carefully and diligently fulfilled the request.)
\n\u0441\u043e \u0441\u043f\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c\u044e<\/b> — with a quiet\/untroubled conscience<\/p>\n
\nA stingy man pays twice, an idiot pays thrice. A sucker spends his whole life paying.<\/p>\n