Why should I tolerate a perfect stranger at the bedside of my mind? Vladimir Nabokov More Quotes by Vladimir Nabokov More Quotes From Vladimir Nabokov I am not, and never was, and never could have been, a brutal scoundrel. Vladimir Nabokov brutalscoundrelscould-have-been Nostalgia in reverse, the longing for yet another strange land, grew especially strong in spring. Vladimir Nabokov landstrongspring And yet I adore him. I think he's quite crazy, and with no place or occupation in life, and far from happy, and philosophically irresponsible – and there is absolutely nobody like him. Vladimir Nabokov occupationcrazythinking I shall continue to exist. I may assume other disguises, other forms, but I shall try to exist. Vladimir Nabokov assumingmaytrying 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 rockstwodeath We think not in words but in shadows of words. Vladimir Nabokov shadowthinking 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 girlwritingbook Who can say what heartbreaks are caused in a dog by our discontinuing a romp? Vladimir Nabokov dog ... my mind lay limp in an empty world. Vladimir Nabokov minddepressionworld My mind speaks English, my heart speaks Russian, and my ear prefers French. Vladimir Nabokov speak-englishmindheart Time is rhythm: the insect rhythm of a warm humid night, brain ripple, breathing, the drum in my temple—these are our faithful timekeepers; and reason corrects the feverish beat. Vladimir Nabokov faithfulbreathingnight The rich philistinism emanating from advertisements is due not to their exaggerating (or inventing) the glory of this or that serviceable article but to suggesting that the acme of human happiness is purchasable and that its purchase somehow ennobles the purchaser. Vladimir Nabokov articlesrichglory Dear Jesus, do something. Vladimir Nabokov dearjesus in a sense, all poetry is positional: to try to express one's position in regard to the universe embraced by consciousness, is an immemorial urge. The arms of consciousness reach out and grope, and the longer they are the better. Tentacles, not wings, are Apollo's natural members. Vladimir Nabokov apollowingstrying A major writer combines these three - storyteller, teacher, enchanter - but it is the enchanter in him that predominates and makes him a major writer. Vladimir Nabokov threewritingteacher Poetry involves the mysteries of the irrational perceived through rational words. Vladimir Nabokov irrationalmysteryreason I have rewritten — often several times — every word I have ever published. My pencils outlast their erasers. Vladimir Nabokov revisionpencilswriting My God died young. Theolatry i found Degrading, and its premises, unsound. No free man needs God; but was I free? Vladimir Nabokov foundmenneeds Curiously enough, one cannot read a book; one can only reread it. A good reader, a major reader, and active and creative reader is a rereader. Vladimir Nabokov creativeenoughbook She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita. Vladimir Nabokov feetmorningschool
