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“There's no easier pastime than bad-mouthing the church. Much like bad-mouthing Dostoyevsky: it's true, of course, all true, but it also misses the point. The church is a thing of wonder, Dostoyevsky is a thing of wonder, and the fact that we Russians are still here—that, too, is a thing of wonder.”
― Maxim Osipov, Rock, Paper, Scissors: And Other Stories

“The consultant starts explaining again. She isn't participating, isn't listening. Then suddenly she hears him say: "... if he has the operation he could live to a good age. We've persuaded him, almost. So you should stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution." ... This is going too far. She pays a visit to the chief physician: *He* will give Zhidkov a drip twice a day, every day. *He* is responsible for it. It will be done under *his* personal supervision. And that asshole consultant is not to be let anywhere near Zhidkov. Happy Women's Day to the women on his team.”
― Maxim Osipov, Rock, Paper, Scissors: And Other Stories

“Of course, certain external circumstances are impossible to predict. ... For instance: Will our country last? Its predecessor, with all its might, was more short-lived than your average violin, for which seventy years is nothing, a piffling age: seventy-year-old violins look virtually brand-new; they have no cracks to speak of; sometimes luthiers have to imitate wear and tear. As it currently stands, it doesn't appear that this country, successor to the one in which Leva and Yasha and Katya and Dodik grew up, has a long life in store: it'll fall apart, disintegrate, too many cracks to count. But then again, that may not come to pass. We shouldn't look to contrive an outcome—let that story run its own course. ... However, there is one thing of which we are certain. Bows will still be wound in silver wire or whalebone; ebony frogs will still be inlaid with mother-of-pearl eyes; and childen's violins—one-quarter size, one-eighth size—will still bear delicate trails of salt, the salt of tears from children, who cry as they play, not stopping, not ending their music.”
― Maxim Osipov, Rock, Paper, Scissors: And Other Stories

“Of course, certain external circumstances are impossible to predict. ... For instance: Will our country last? Its predecessor, with all its might, was more short-lived than your average violin, for which seventy years is nothing, a piffling age: seventy-year-old violins look virtually brand-new; they have no cracks to speak of; sometimes luthiers have to imitate wear and tear. As it currently stands, it doesn't appear that this country, successor to the one in which Leva and Yasha and Katya and Dodik grew up, has a long life in store: it'll fall apart, disintegrate, too many cracks to count. But then again, that may not come to pass. We shouldn't look to contrive an outcome—let that story run its own course.”
― Maxim Osipov, Rock, Paper, Scissors: And Other Stories

“The place could be anywhere with its own kind of appeal—particularly central Russia. You can fall for this place just as easily as a woman can fall for a loser.”
― Maxim Osipov, Rock, Paper, Scissors: And Other Stories