Vladimir Nabokov Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Vladimir Nabokov

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Vladimir Nabokov Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Vladimir Nabokov on Wise Famous Quotes.

Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The best part of a writer's biography is not the record of his adventures but the story of his style. [Vogue, interview, 1969] The best part of a writer's biography is not the record of his adventures but the story of his style. [Vogue, interview, 1969]
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: In order to enjoy life, we should not enjoy it too much. In order to enjoy life, we should not enjoy it too much.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: There is nothing so banal in the world,' said Ada 'than pitching stones at a hawfinch. There is nothing so banal in the world,' said Ada 'than pitching stones at a hawfinch.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: 'I shall vomit,' said Hugh, 'if you persist in pestering me with all that odious rot.' 'I shall vomit,' said Hugh, 'if you persist in pestering me with all that odious rot.'
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Only ambitious nonentities and hearty mediocrities exhibit their rough drafts. It's like passing around samples of sputum. Only ambitious nonentities and hearty mediocrities exhibit their rough drafts. It's like passing around samples of sputum.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I would fight of course. Oh, I would fight. Better destroy everything than surrender her. I would fight of course. Oh, I would fight. Better destroy everything than surrender her.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Don't cry, I'm sorry to have deceived you so much, but that's how life is. Don't cry, I'm sorry to have deceived you so much, but that's how life is.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: My characters are galley slaves. My characters are galley slaves.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Use unlikely materials. Who would choose Pnin as hero, but how did we live before Pnin? Use unlikely materials. Who would choose Pnin as hero, but how did we live before Pnin?
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I moved on, and at noon, dragging through some village, I decided to halt, since even at such I moved on, and at noon, dragging through some village, I decided to halt, since even at such
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Life is a great sunrise. I do not see why death should not be a greater one. Life is a great sunrise. I do not see why death should not be a greater one.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I was a daisy fresh girl and look what you've done to me. I was a daisy fresh girl and look what you've done to me.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I am convinced, however, that in a certain magic and fateful way Lolita began with Annabel. I am convinced, however, that in a certain magic and fateful way Lolita began with Annabel.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: We are most artistically caged. We are most artistically caged.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The Goldsworth castle became particularly solitary after that turning point at dusk which resembles so much the nightfall of the mind. Stealthy The Goldsworth castle became particularly solitary after that turning point at dusk which resembles so much the nightfall of the mind. Stealthy
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: No Leslie, I'm not dead. I have finished building a world, and this is my Sabbath rest. No Leslie, I'm not dead. I have finished building a world, and this is my Sabbath rest.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Caress the detail, the divine detail. Caress the detail, the divine detail.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Leave your incidental Dick. Leave your incidental Dick.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: [S]urely the Cupid serving him was lefthanded, with a weak chin and no imagination. [S]urely the Cupid serving him was lefthanded, with a weak chin and no imagination.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: One mercifully hopes there are water nymphs in the Styx. One mercifully hopes there are water nymphs in the Styx.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The problem lies not with the characters within the novel, but with the reader itself. The problem lies not with the characters within the novel, but with the reader itself.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Spontaneous eloquence seems to me a miracle. Spontaneous eloquence seems to me a miracle.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The mind writes with a pen, the heart, with a pencil. The mind writes with a pen, the heart, with a pencil.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The future is but the obsolete in reverse. The future is but the obsolete in reverse.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Solitude was corrupting me. I needed company and care. Solitude was corrupting me. I needed company and care.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: If sex is the sermon made of art, love is the lady of that tower. If sex is the sermon made of art, love is the lady of that tower.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Only talent interests me in paintings and books. Not general ideas, but the individual contribution. Only talent interests me in paintings and books. Not general ideas, but the individual contribution.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: There is an old American saying 'He who lives in a glass house should not try to kill two birds with one stone. There is an old American saying 'He who lives in a glass house should not try to kill two birds with one stone.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: You forget, my good man, that what the artist perceives is, primarily, the difference between things. It is the vulgar who note their resemblance. You forget, my good man, that what the artist perceives is, primarily, the difference between things. It is the vulgar who note their resemblance.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Oh, let me be mawkish for the nonce! I am so tired of being cynical. Oh, let me be mawkish for the nonce! I am so tired of being cynical.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Do what only a true artist can do ... pounce upon the forgotten butterfly of revelation Do what only a true artist can do ... pounce upon the forgotten butterfly of revelation
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The evolution of sense, in a sense, is the evolution of non sense The evolution of sense, in a sense, is the evolution of non sense
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: When stripped and shiny in the mist of the bath house, his bold virilia contrasted harshly with his girlish grace. He was a regular faunlet. When stripped and shiny in the mist of the bath house, his bold virilia contrasted harshly with his girlish grace. He was a regular faunlet.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Human life is but a series of footnotes to a vast obscure unfinished masterpiece Human life is but a series of footnotes to a vast obscure unfinished masterpiece
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: A change of environment is the traditional fallacy upon which doomed loves, and lungs, rely. A change of environment is the traditional fallacy upon which doomed loves, and lungs, rely.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Who can say what heartbreaks are caused in a dog by our discontinuing a romp? Who can say what heartbreaks are caused in a dog by our discontinuing a romp?
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Fame in our day is too common to be confused with the enduring glow around the deserving book. Fame in our day is too common to be confused with the enduring glow around the deserving book.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Light in comparison with darkness is a void. Light in comparison with darkness is a void.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: If there is anything of which I am certain in life it is that I shall never exchange the liberty of my exile for the vile parody of home. If there is anything of which I am certain in life it is that I shall never exchange the liberty of my exile for the vile parody of home.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: And I thought to myself how those fast little articles forget everything, everything, while we, old lovers, treasure every inch of their nymphancy And I thought to myself how those fast little articles forget everything, everything, while we, old lovers, treasure every inch of their nymphancy
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Most of the dandelions had changed from suns into moons. Most of the dandelions had changed from suns into moons.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The red sun of desire and decision (the two things that create a live world) rose higher and higher, The red sun of desire and decision (the two things that create a live world) rose higher and higher,
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: the awfulness of love and violets the awfulness of love and violets
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: ...My taut heartlurches heavily, like a sack in a cart, clatteringdownhill, towards a cliff, towards an abyss!It can't be stopped! ...My taut heart
lurches heavily, like a sack in a cart, clattering
downhill, towards a cliff, towards an abyss!
It can't be stopped!
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: There was no Lo to behold. There was no Lo to behold.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: beware of ideas... beware of ideas...
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Nothing is more exhilarating than philistine vulgarity. Nothing is more exhilarating than philistine vulgarity.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: She is a great gobbler of books, but reads only trash, memorizing nothing and leaving out the longer descriptions. She is a great gobbler of books, but reads only trash, memorizing nothing and leaving out the longer descriptions.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Burn pedants in pale fire. Accept no fashions. Be your own fashion. Do not rely on earlier triumphs. Be new at each appearance. Burn pedants in pale fire. Accept no fashions. Be your own fashion. Do not rely on earlier triumphs. Be new at each appearance.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Lolita is famous, not I. I am an obscure, doubly obscure, novelist with an unpronounceable name. Lolita is famous, not I. I am an obscure, doubly obscure, novelist with an unpronounceable name.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I knew I had fallen in love with Lolita forever; but I also knew she would not be forever Lolita. I knew I had fallen in love with Lolita forever; but I also knew she would not be forever Lolita.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Making klv zdB AoyvBno wkh gwzxm dqg kzwAAqvo a gwttp vq wjfhm Ada in natural bower of aspens xliC mujzikml. Making klv zdB AoyvBno wkh gwzxm dqg kzwAAqvo a gwttp vq wjfhm Ada in natural bower of aspens xliC mujzikml.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: When you laugh, I want to transform theentire world so it will mirror you. When you laugh, I want to transform the
entire world so it will mirror you.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Revelation can be more perilous than Revolution. Revelation can be more perilous than Revolution.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: All of which does not alter the fact that Pnin was on the wrong train. All of which does not alter the fact that Pnin was on the wrong train.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: There is only one school: that of talent. There is only one school: that of talent.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The nostalgia I have been cherishing all these years is a hypertrophied sense of lost childhood, not sorrow for lost banknotes. The nostalgia I have been cherishing all these years is a hypertrophied sense of lost childhood, not sorrow for lost banknotes.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Suddenly, gentlemen of the jury, I felt a Dostoevskian grin dawning (through the very grimace that twisted my lips) like a distant and terrible sun. Suddenly, gentlemen of the jury, I felt a Dostoevskian grin dawning (through the very grimace that twisted my lips) like a distant and terrible sun.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I really knew nothing about her, blinded as I was by that burning loveliness which replaces everything else and justifies everything I really knew nothing about her, blinded as I was by that burning loveliness which replaces everything else and justifies everything
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Every great writer is a great deceiver Every great writer is a great deceiver
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: There are certain trifles I do not forgive. Not having read the required book. Having read it like an idiot. - John Shade There are certain trifles I do not forgive. Not having read the required book. Having read it like an idiot. - John Shade
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: A wave would arrive, all out of breath, but, as it had nothing to report, it would disperse in apologetic salaams. A wave would arrive, all out of breath, but, as it had nothing to report, it would disperse in apologetic salaams.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The one who kills is always his victim's inferior. The one who kills is always his victim's inferior.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Tenderness rounds out true triumph, gentleness lubricates genuine liberation: emotions that are not diagnostic of glory or passion in dreams. Tenderness rounds out true triumph, gentleness lubricates genuine liberation: emotions that are not diagnostic of glory or passion in dreams.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: We think not in words but in shadows of words. We think not in words but in shadows of words.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: this summer is so much sadder than the other this summer is so much sadder than the other
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I see nothing for the treatment of my misery but the melancholy and very local palliative of articulate art. I see nothing for the treatment of my misery but the melancholy and very local palliative of articulate art.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I have no desires, save the desire to express myself in defiance of all the world's muteness. I have no desires, save the desire to express myself in defiance of all the world's muteness.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: twirling in his fingers the mummy of a cigar, twirling in his fingers the mummy of a cigar,
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: While you took a dull doll to pieces and threw its head away. While you took a dull doll to pieces and threw its head away.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I don't read reviews about myself with any special eagerness or attention unless they are masterpieces of wit and acumen, and I never reread them. I don't read reviews about myself with any special eagerness or attention unless they are masterpieces of wit and acumen, and I never reread them.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: There is only one school of literature - that of talent. There is only one school of literature - that of talent.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The only real number is one, the rest are mere repetition The only real number is one, the rest are mere repetition
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: She could fade and wither- I didn't care. I would still go mad with tenderness at the mere sight of her. She could fade and wither- I didn't care. I would still go mad with tenderness at the mere sight of her.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: A poet's purified truth can cause no pain, no offense. True art is above false honor. A poet's purified truth can cause no pain, no offense. True art is above false honor.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: How can I demonstrate [ ... ] that I have glimpsed somebody's future recollection? How can I demonstrate [ ... ] that I have glimpsed somebody's future recollection?
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Words without experience are meaningless. Words without experience are meaningless.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Zembla is a site devoted to the life and works of author, translator, and lepidopterist. Zembla is a site devoted to the life and works of author, translator, and lepidopterist.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Blue!' she exclaimed. 'Violet blue. What are they made of?' 'Summer skies,' I said, 'and plums and figs, and the grape-blood of emperors.' 'No, Blue!' she exclaimed. 'Violet blue. What are they made of?' 'Summer skies,' I said, 'and plums and figs, and the grape-blood of emperors.' 'No,
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: You must be careful. There are things that should never be given up. You must persevere. You must be careful. There are things that should never be given up. You must persevere.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I have never seen a more lucid, better balanced, mad mind than mine. I have never seen a more lucid, better balanced, mad mind than mine.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Solitude is the playfield of Satan. Solitude is the playfield of Satan.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: [D]avid began to argue, with the whining intonations of German astonishment, [ ... ] that everyone did it. [D]avid began to argue, with the whining intonations of German astonishment, [ ... ] that everyone did it.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: As if it were a point of honor - which, indeed, a point of art often is. As if it were a point of honor - which, indeed, a point of art often is.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: And what is death, if not a face at peace - its artistic perfection. And what is death, if not a face at peace - its artistic perfection.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I happen to be the kind of author who in starting to work on a book has no purpose than to get rid of that book ... I happen to be the kind of author who in starting to work on a book has no purpose than to get rid of that book ...
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: My heart was a hysterical unreliable organ. My heart was a hysterical unreliable organ.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: We are still groping perhaps, but we grope intelligently, like a gynecologist feeling a tumor. We are still groping perhaps, but we grope intelligently, like a gynecologist feeling a tumor.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: All the information I have about myself is from forged documents. All the information I have about myself is from forged documents.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I, on my part, was as naive as only a pervert can be. I, on my part, was as naive as only a pervert can be.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: There was a rhythm, analternation in the dripping that I found as teasing as a cointrick. There was a rhythm, an
alternation in the dripping that I found as teasing as a coin
trick.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: No author has created with less emphasis such pathetic characters as Chekhov has. No author has created with less emphasis such pathetic characters as Chekhov has.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: The good, the admirable reader identifies himself not with the boy or the girl in the book, but with the mind that conceived and composed that book. The good, the admirable reader identifies himself not with the boy or the girl in the book, but with the mind that conceived and composed that book.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Who grins in official circumstances? Who grins in official circumstances?
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Actually he was a pessimist, and, like all pessimists, a ridiculously unobservant man. Actually he was a pessimist, and, like all pessimists, a ridiculously unobservant man.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: We loved each other with a premature love, marked by a fierceness that so often destroys adult lives. We loved each other with a premature love, marked by a fierceness that so often destroys adult lives.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: I was weeping again, drunk on the impossible past. I was weeping again, drunk on the impossible past.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Thus the story describes a full circle ... a vicious circle as all circles are, despite their posing as apples, or planets, or human faces. Thus the story describes a full circle ... a vicious circle as all circles are, despite their posing as apples, or planets, or human faces.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: Years of secret suffering had taught me superhuman self-control. Years of secret suffering had taught me superhuman self-control.
Vladimir Nabokov quotes: At night, my dreams rhyme, and all day I have an aftertaste of insomnia. At night, my dreams rhyme, and all day I have an aftertaste of insomnia.

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