Much later I realized that Russian people, because of the poverty and squalor of their lives, love to amuse themselves with sorrow--to play with it like children, and are seldom ashamed of being unhappy.
Maxim Gorky reflects on the Russian people's relationship with suffering, suggesting that their difficult living conditions lead them to find a form of entertainment in their hardships. Instead of avoiding or denying their sorrow, they embrace it, almost playfully, as a natural part of life.
He observes that Russians are rarely ashamed of their unhappiness, implying that their attitude towards suffering is more accepting and even nostalgic. This perspective highlights a cultural tendency to see sorrow not just as pain, but as an integral aspect of their identity and resilience.
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