Vladimir Nabokov

Explore 7 quotes by Vladimir Nabokov

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.

Vladimir Nabokov

Lolita

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Author

Vladimir Nabokov

Source

Lolita

Medium

Novel

Statement Type

Opening lines Assonance

Language

English

Time

1955 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Nabokov, Vladimir. Lolita. Olympia Press, 1955, ch. 1.

A most conventional way to rise above the conventional.

Vladimir Nabokov

More information about this quote

Topic

Infidelity

Speaker

Vladimir Nabokov

Medium

Lecture

Language

English

Time

1948 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Nabokov, Vladimir. Talking about the novel Madame Bovary. c. 1948, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Lecture.

Current Citation

Nabokov, Vladimir. "Gustave Flaubert: Madame Bovary." Lectures on Literature, edited by Fredson Bowers. Mariner Books, 2002.

The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness.

Vladimir Nabokov

Speak, Memory

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Topic

The human condition Brevity of life Nature of life

Author

Vladimir Nabokov

Source

Speak, Memory

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

English

Time

1951 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Nabokov, Vladimir. Speak, Memory. Victor Gollancz, 1951, ch. 1.

Treading the soil of the moon, palpating its pebbles, tasting the panic and splendor of the event, feeling in the pit of one's stomach the separation from terre... These form the most romantic sensation an explorer has ever known... This is the only thing I can say about the matter. The utilitarian results do not interest me.

Vladimir Nabokov

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Topic

The moon

Author

Vladimir Nabokov

Language

English

Time

1969 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Nabokov, Vladimir. Quoted in The New York Times. 21 July 1969.

My pencils outlast their erasers.

Vladimir Nabokov

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Topic

Editing Writing

Speaker

Vladimir Nabokov

Source

Strong Opinions

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

1962 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Nabokov, Vladimir. "Anonymous." Strong Opinions. McGraw-Hill, 1973.

Life is a great surprise. I do not see why death should not be an even greater one.

Vladimir Nabokov

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Topic

Mystery of death Life and death Death

Speaker

John Shade

Author

Vladimir Nabokov

Source

Pale Fire

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1962 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Nabokov, Vladimir. Pale Fire. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1962.

Although we read with our minds, the seat of artistic delight is between the shoulder blades. That little shiver behind is quite certainly the highest form of emotion that humanity has attained when evolving pure art and pure science. Let us worship the spine and its tingle.

Vladimir Nabokov

More information about this quote

Topic

Human body Pleasure of art Art

Author

Vladimir Nabokov

Medium

Lecture

Language

English

Time

1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Nabokov, Vladimir. Talking about the novel Bleak House. c. 1940, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA. Lecture.

Current Citation

Nabokov, Vladimir. "Charles Dickens: Bleak House." Lectures on Literature, edited by Fredson Bowers. Mariner Books, 2002.