Not to be understood

Russians themselves say Умом Россию не понять: the mind cannot comprehend Russia (or, you cannot comprehend Russia with the mind). These are the famous words (and the title) of a poem from 1866 by Fyodor Tyutchev (in Russian Фёдор Тютчев).

Федор Тютчев – Умом Россию не понять

Умом Россию не понять,
Аршином общим не измерить:
У ней особенная стать –
В Россию можно только верить.

This lady recites it in 13 seconds. You probably won’t need to turn the volume up.

верить: believe in Russia

In Russia (Россия, which in this case is Россию due to the accusative case), you can только верить, only believe. Watching is also fun and can be done without any understanding or belief. Here’s some great material: Russia compilations that fittingly use Умом Россию не понять as their motto.

For those who still haven’t had enough: YouTube has an entire series of Умом Россию не понять clips. Click here, here, and here for more.

See also OPINION: Why you can’t get enough of those bizarre videos from Russia, where you can read, among other things: ‘This was the promise held out by these compilations and listicles: a crazy, “Wild Wild East” that offered thrills and freedoms that the West had long forsaken on the road to stability and prosperity.’ (Josh Nadeau, Russia Beyond 2019)