The aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov, the author created by the imagination of A. K. Tolstoy and the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers in the XIX century, are well known to everyone, and we still quote them with pleasure. The secret of the popularity of these "fruits of reflection" lies not only in the originality of the content, but also in the artistically refined form of expression. An aphorism, as you know, is "a generalized, deep thought of a certain author, expressed in a concise, refined form, characterized by expressiveness and obvious surprise of judgment" (Dictionary of Literary Terms, Moscow, 1974, p. 23). Kozma Prutkov's aphorisms are different in nature: these are the instructions of the teacher.- page 17 comments, recommendations, and reflections on any occasion. The most typical aphorisms are instructions. As an "urgent advice, teaching" (Ozhegov S. I. Dictionary of the Russian Language, Moscow, 1990, p. 392), the instruction is addressed to everyone, anyone, that is, a generalized person, and a "concise, refined" form for it is generalized-personal sentences. Even A.M. Peshkovsky noticed that the form of generalization transfers the content of the sentence to everyone, including the listener, "who is therefore more captured by the narrative than with a purely personal form" (Peshkovsky A.M. Russian syntax in scientific coverage, Moscow, 1938, p. 342): It is better to say a little, but All right; Melt the wax, but keep the honey (Here and further cit. by ed.: Soch. Kozma Prutkova, Moscow, 1984. The source's punctuation is preserved). Using the imperative mood of the verb, the author addresses the reader as an interlocutor who is well known to him, in a relaxed, or even friendly tone, the form of the 2nd person singular in relation to the generalized person gives a bright emotional and expressive color to the sentence. The addressee is sometimes mentioned in the address, but it is not specific, which only emphasizes the generality of the statement: My friends! Walk wi ... Read more