Curiosity is insubordination in its purest form. Vladimir Nabokov More Quotes by Vladimir Nabokov More Quotes From Vladimir Nabokov Beauty plus pity-that is the closest we can get to a definition of art. Where there is beauty there is pity for the simple reason that beauty must die: beauty always dies, the manner dies with the matter, the world dies with the individual. Vladimir Nabokov simple world art Occasionally, in the middle of a conversation her name would be mentioned, and she would run down the steps of a chance sentence, without turning her head. Vladimir Nabokov would-be names running Don't cry, I'm sorry to have deceived you so much, but that's how life is. Vladimir Nabokov cry life-is sorry Derivative writers seem versatile because they imitate many others, past and present. Artistic originality has only itself to copy. Vladimir Nabokov derivatives originality past It was an interesting thing to do. Why did I write any of my books, after all? For the sake of the pleasure, for the sake of the difficulty. I have no social purpose, no moral message; I've no general ideas to exploit, I just like composing riddles with elegant solutions. Vladimir Nabokov writing book ideas There he stood, in the camouflage of sun and shade, disfigured by them and masked by his own nakedness. Vladimir Nabokov camouflage shade sun I grew, a happy, healthy child in a bright world of illustrated books, clean sand, orange trees, friendly dogs, sea vistas and smiling faces. Vladimir Nabokov dog book children Do those clowns really believe what they teach? Vladimir Nabokov clown teach believe Age indomitably, in the European manner. Do not finish your labours young. Be a planet, not a meteor. Honor the working day. Sit at your desk. Vladimir Nabokov honor age life The summer night was starless and stirless, with distant spasms of silent lightning. Vladimir Nabokov lightning summer night ...All my best words are deserters and do not answer the trumpet call, and the remainder are cripples. Vladimir Nabokov cripples trumpets answers Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, exhibit number one is what the seraphs, the misinformed, simple, noble-winged seraphs, envied. Look at this tangle of thorns. Vladimir Nabokov gentleman simple numbers If possible, be Russian. And live in another country. Play chess. Be an active trader between languages. Carry precious metals from one to the other. Remind us of Stravinsky. Know the names of plants and flying creatures. Hunt gauzy wings with snares of gauze. Make science pay tribute. Have a butterfly known by your name. Vladimir Nabokov butterfly life country He was afraid of touching his own wrist. He never attempted to sleep on his left side, even in those dismal hours of the night when the insomniac longs for a third side after trying the two he has. Vladimir Nabokov insomnia sleep night I see again my schoolroom in Vyra, the blue roses of the wallpaper, the open window.… Everything is as it should be, nothing will ever change, nobody will ever die. Vladimir Nabokov rose blue window Human thought, flying on the trapezes of the star-filled universe, with mathematics stretched beneath, was like an acrobat working with a net but suddenly noticing that in reality there is no net. Vladimir Nabokov flying stars reality while the scientist sees everything that happens in one point of space, the poet feels everything that happens in one point of time. Vladimir Nabokov scientist poet space Use unlikely materials. Who would choose Pnin as hero, but how did we live before Pnin? Vladimir Nabokov use hero life All my life I have been a poor go-to-sleeper. No matter how great my weariness, the wrench of parting with consciousness is unspeakably repulsive to me. Vladimir Nabokov consciousness matter insomnia Mnemosyne, one must admit, has shown herself to be a very careless girl. Vladimir Nabokov careless girl
