Thread: Cultural Differences Between Americans and Russians

Originally Posted by Deborski

I think it is a fair observation. Could it have something to do with the way Russians and Americans think about "fate"?

Americans think "no fate but what we make" and Russians think "you can't fight fate"... and who is really right, or are we both right in the end?

probably, that also has something to do with traditionally little appreciation and reward for personal initiative in the Soviet society, unless it's approved by authority, which in turn discourages people to take initiative and so they become pretty passive

there's even a saying - инициатива наказуема


in the end everybody's equal, but the itinerary to the destination can vary

Originally Posted by LXNDR

probably, that also has something to do with traditionally little appreciation and reward for personal initiative in the Soviet society, unless it's approved by authority, which in turn discourages people to take initiative and so they become pretty passive

there's even a saying - инициатива наказуема


in the end everybody's equal, but the itinerary to the destination can vary

Like "Everybody is equal, but some are more equal than others"...? Maybe George Orwell had it right.