Сергей Зайцев - Want be a scientist? Read it!

MEPhI was, (and can and now is) one of the main suppliers of psychiatric hospital №15 which is very conveniently located opposite to it. Who – I do not remember, but has very truly told: «you will read a little – you will not learn to think, you will be too much – you will forget».

I have somehow gone on offset. In one hand there was a package with textbooks, and in another Mother has given to a hand dust that I have thrown out it. I come on offset – in a package dust. I have understood – it is necessary a measure the nobility in study. At big parts of students all cares were reduced to that, as though this session opposite to hand over, yes properly to have fun. Well, still to earn additionally a money. Wau, me now these cares! And all after all, little fools, would dream to finish somewhat quicker institute… Here then —we will begin to live!

Earlier students, in my opinion, were somehow more cheerful and more carefree. Constantly everyone thought out something, that повеселить the company. So, for example, there was a French film «Fantomas». One student in a hostel after viewing of this film has had hair cut «under Kotovsky», has then dissolved зеленку in a bucket with water, and has dipped there a head. It has turned out poured out Fantomas. In such kind it has gone at first to student’s buffet, nearly has not finished to a faint the barmaid, and then was in institute on examination where has made the present furore.

At socialism all students have been obliged to be members of the Komsomol. And at us student Ulyanov to whom severe parents have arranged a name and a patronymic – Vladimir Ilich studied! The person for all life has appeared is doomed to mockeries. It is natural, that for a trick we have chosen it at once comsomol organiser. And he should write characteristics on all of us. And here just there was on the screen a film «Seventeen instants of spring». He also has written on us type characteristics: «the excellent sportsman, is ruthless to enemies of the CPSU, character firm нордический, the exemplary family man etc.» Above as have learnt about it … … …. Well was to all of us on nuts! Hardly was Vladimir Ilicha Ulyanov from Komsomol have not expelled. But were afraid, probably – and suddenly the voice of America learns – then the end would be all! Still, Lenin have expelled from Komsomol! Though, then it for poor progress have deducted all the same from institute.

In MEPhI concentration of talented people was high. It and is not surprising, as competition those years sometimes gushed over for 10—17 persons into place. Unfortunately, almost all of them essential have not achieved anything, and from a life anything corresponding to their talent have not received.

In our society propagandise the meanest and silliest slogan: «the Talent itself will punch to itself road!». It is difficult to think up something more disgusting. Actually it is necessary to cherish such people simply. They, as a rule, in a usual life are helpless, as children. And after all were such which not going at lecture, read volume of theoretical physics Landau for a night, went on examination, and on it nonplused the teacher! Or for the first time at examination from the ticket having learnt about theorem existence, there and then found the, original way of its proof. Some of them laid down the person in a pillow and without ceremony won even against good players in dark at game in chess on three and more boards. Them was about one on group. Obviously, that they not such, as we, usual people. My opinion, that at them for some reason brains do not get tired. At me, for example, after an hour of intensive mental work comes full out. Thus I have noticed, that all talented, they simultaneously good, pleasant and benevolent people. Probably, because unlike us, are deprived envy. I sometimes even think, that to us, to usual people, in such institutions as MEPhI and to do there is nothing. They read «on-diagonal» for an evening the book stuffed with mathematics and acquire all. And I while itself will not make all mathematical calculations, I do not acquire anything. When I have handed over on the five entrance examination in physics in MEPhI, and left «winner» through a front entrance on steps, and to me relatives towards ran, jumping up from delight, the internal voice accurately to me has told: «it is not necessary to you here!». I have not obeyed. But on the first course all like would go perfectly. I – that studied at mathematical school, and already knew higher mathematics bases. Therefore sometimes even tried to prompt to the lecturer. All also have decided, that I – talent. But then really capable people, of course, «have made» me. And as has gone mathphysics, theory of complexes, quantum mech, I here have absolutely become sad. The internal voice was right all the same. You see a stone not under force – do not lift! But on entrance examinations all climb as mad, and do not reflect on consequences. Probably, works an agiotage and a gregarious instinct. And it was necessary to me to go in any economic-statistical, building, or «Trade-Institute» and, quite possibly, would achieve much bigger successes. There by the way, bad students from us forwarded, and them with pleasure took. I met some then – successful, big-bellied, in ties, with secretaries, People happy with a life. Here all my moral, intellectual and other forces as in sand, have left in mad study. It all the same as in a frontal attack on machine guns to go. It is well told: «all useful – is simple, all unnecessary – is difficult».

Pay attention – practically all first people in our state finished any Periphery, third-rate educational institutions. It is possible to explain it to that they were not required need deeply into a difficult speciality and consequently they had possibility to spend all time for procrawling on a Komsomol and party line, an institution of useful acquaintances.

Tricks in MEPhI was it is a lot of, but some were remembered only. Here, for example, there was it in 1965г. On change we have run out in a toilet who to smoke, who what for. One of students, the huge guy «from a plough», has run up to a booth and so has jerked for the handle (and it has appeared closed from within) that all sickly castles with guts have taken off. We in shock! There «as the mountain eagle at top of Caucasus» sat itself chef of cafedra of physics on the brink of a toilet bowl! A mute scene. He stretches the right hand to close a door. decides, that he wishes to greet him. Alexander catches his palm, shakes and speaks: «Hello Igor Vladimirovich!». Then on semibent, leaves a toilet, having forgotten, what for has come.