Writing down my ten favourite expressions was not difficult, even though I sometimes associate them with the rigidity of language. Some are used by my friends, others I have read as graffiti in places meaningful to me, and some I have translated myself from ancient and modern texts, or watched as they were chewed over in the mouths of living people only to be unexpectedly spat out — their use is dictated solely by a shared vision in any given moment.

Sie haben die Macht, wir haben die Nacht — “They have the power, the night belongs to us.” It is written on the wall of an unremarkable Berlin gateway, and I think it is true.

There is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad — so said the Preacher, and this sentence truly makes one glad to be under the sun.

Do not try at home — I do not even know how to translate this sensibly. Perhaps — “Don't even try it yourself!” This aphorism becomes especially relevant when watching films about drugs and terrorism. At home, you might just fail to pull it off.

From the storehouse of wisdom gathered by the people — useful when someone does something that everyone supposedly knows how to do, but no one actually does.

The dog knows what it has eaten — perhaps it does not know, but this saying well describes capitalism, a success-oriented society, and the academic environment.

Forget about it — as if one could forget or remember something on command, but it is worth a try.

Jihad to you too — literally: “Jihad to you, too.” A topical form of greeting.

Do not spit in the well from which you will drink, it will fly out, you won't catch it – a simple and wonderful truth.

The power of your soul — “The power of your soul.” This sentence had been stuck in my memory for so long that one day I saw it written on a concrete fence in a neighbouring street.

Ну, блин, покурили — a friend of mine says this when it is necessary to describe a situation with several unknown variables.