1707: Panas Myrny on Social Realism, Ukrainian Language, Poverty, Freedom, and Human Dignity
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2026/06/28
“Thus, together with words, we also acquire reason; we take in the thoughts of others, learn to think for ourselves, and learn to express those thoughts in words.”
“And even now there are many of our own so-called wise men who, having forgotten their own stock and lineage, disparage their native language, prophesying that it will have a short life — until the common people are enlightened by learning and then cast off their language as worthless, neglecting it as useless for anything.”
“We have long been hearing such things. Yet they have not stopped the love for the native word among true lovers of the people, nor have they smothered their faith in the future of their language…”
“Time passed, and the number of those people-loving writers, despite every kind of oppression and the prophecies of both native and foreign wiseacres, grew more and more…”
“And this makes clear that, after a long sleep, we have awakened and begun to look around; we are proving to the world that we, like others, want to live and to increase that universal good — culture.”
“We wished freedom for the people, / We wished that they would open their eyes, / And, like other enlightened nations, / Live for progress, for truth, and happiness.”
“But these paths are covered with thorns / And do not gleam with gilded flowers.”
“Everywhere You carried the majestic word, / Awakened Your brothers from their heavy sleep, / And like a scourge from the holy heavens, thunderously / Punished the fierce enemies.”
“Until you know good in the world, even evil becomes good.”
“Heavy sorrow takes away both hearing and speech.”
“Hunger, poverty’s wicked sworn brother, is the first enemy of idleness.”
“Do oxen low when their mangers are full?”
“They were free while there was no freedom.”
“Work is easy for the one who does it of his own will.”
“And everywhere there are enemies — and there are no enemies, because people have grown feeble: no one wants to measure strength openly!”
“Where there is no unity, the devil has free rein!”
“Whatever kind of master he may be, he is still better than a hired man.”
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