Popular Quotes
Many popular sayings have entered the Russian language from the film. The first is by far the best known.
- The East is a delicate matter (Восток — дело тонкое); refers to any complicated or difficult matter, not necessarily "eastern" in nature.
- Are there questions? No, there aren't! (Вопросы есть? Вопросов нет!); refers to the commanding tone of an officer that will not hear objections to his command.
- Customs gives the green light ("Таможня дает добро!"); refers to any type of approval, especially reluctant approval.
- His grenades are of a wrong caliber ("Да гранаты у него не той системы"); refers to or to comment upon any kind of excuse, particularly a pathetic one. The line wasn't scripted, but improvised by the actor.
- Gyulchatai, show your sweet face ("Гюльчатай, открой личико"); a popular Russian saying for boys to say to girls.
- My heart bleeds for my country ("За державу обидно"); useful as defensive argument in disputes of any kind relation to the homeland.
- I'm replying to your letter, dear Katerina Matveyevna… ("Обратно пишу вам, любезная Катерина Матвеевна…"); used as a prelude to a letter humorously emphasizing its unusually high volume of detail or frequency of mail exchange.
- Mahmud, set the fire ("Махмуд, поджигай!"); used when embarking cheerfully on some difficult potentially dangerous mission.
Read more about this topic: White Sun Of The Desert
Famous quotes containing the words popular and/or quotes:
“I do not see why, since America and her autumn woods have been discovered, our leaves should not compete with the precious stones in giving names to colors; and, indeed, I believe that in course of time the names of some of our trees and shrubs, as well as flowers, will get into our popular chromatic nomenclature.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Man is timid and apologetic; he is no longer upright; he dares not say “I think,” “I am,” but quotes some saint or sage.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)