Frying pan as a symbol of corruption: Tomenko on the case of Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshov

Mykola Tomenko expressed his opinion on the latest developments in the corruption case involving Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. According to Tomenko, the official was given a book of Skovoroda’s works, which was supposed to be a kind of “recognition of merit.” This caused irony because Skovoroda himself considered deep moral principles to be the key to true happiness.

Using the philosopher’s words, “Do not seek happiness overseas… Happiness… is always and everywhere given foolishly”, Tomenko emphasizes that the actual value of Skovoroda’s wisdom lies in rejecting material goods.

Position as a path to enrichment

He also compares presenting a book to an official to giving a meat dish to a vegetarian because a person in a position who uses their powers for personal enrichment cannot fulfill the mission that Skovoroda spoke about, referring to “related work.”

Tomenko notes: “When you climb into a position like a goat on a roof… it’s obvious that you weren’t born for this,” which reflects the current state of affairs in detail.

The Danger of Greed

In Tomenko’s opinion, the problem lies not only in corruption but also in the fact that ordinary greed is hidden behind declarations of patriotism. He recalls another piece of Skovoroda’s wisdom: “When a wolf becomes a shepherd, a bear a monk, and a foal an advisor, it’s no longer a joke, but a disaster.”

Reading authentic texts

Tomenko draws attention to the fact that the official was presented with a Soviet edition of Skovoroda’s works and emphasizes the need to turn to authentic Ukrainian texts, not imperial books. He recommends reading the academic edition prepared by Hryhoriy Ushkalov, as well as the series “Ukrainian Yearbook. Hryhoriy Skovoroda,” published by Oleksandr Savchuk.

Public service without benefit for oneself

In conclusion, Tomenko cites a piece of wisdom that should be important for every civil servant: “It is better to be a natural cat than a lion with a donkey nature.” He emphasizes: “If you seek profit, seek it in honest ways – there are thousands of blessed crafts in this.”

Skovoroda’s philosophy is not just a decorative element for luxurious offices. It is a mirror in which, looking honestly, the rulers of our state may not see what they would like to see.