After completing his higher education, Hryhorii Skovoroda (1722-1794) traveled throughout Europe and learned several foreign languages. From the early 1770s, he led a nomadic lifestyle. In his later years, he stayed with one of his students. It is said that shortly before his death, Skovoroda began digging a hole, saying that it would be his grave. He also asked for the following words to be written on his tombstone: "The world pursued me, but did not catch me."