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Meaning
The speaker is acknowledging that what gives life meaning to him may look irrational to other people. He presents creativity and imagination as central to his identity, even if others might see them as signs of madness.
When It Was Said
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Who It Was Said To
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Historical Context
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Source
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Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
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About Vladimir Nabokov
Russian and American novelist, poet, translator, and entomologist
Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian and American novelist, poet, translator, and entomologist. He wrote under his own name and also used the pen name Vladimir Sirin. He is known for fiction that moves between Russian and English, along with poetry and translation. His interests also reached into entomology, which sat alongside his literary work and shaped the range of his public life.
More from Vladimir Nabokov (161 quotes) →Other sayings from Vladimir Nabokov
- “His heart missed a beat and never regretted the lovely loss.”Vladimir Nabokov
- “a destiny in the making is, believe me, not one of those honest mystery stories where all you have to do is k…”Vladimir Nabokov
- “I see again my schoolroom in Vyra, the blue roses of the wallpaper, the open window.… Everything is as it sho…”Vladimir Nabokov
- “Revelation can be more perilous than Revolution.”Vladimir Nabokov
Explore Creativity
- “we are continuing God’s work of forming, filling, and subduing. Whenever we bring order out of chaos, wheneve…”Timothy J. Keller
- “Creating art is paradoxical because an artist seeks to express truth by penetrating and destroying illusions.…”Kilroy J. Oldster
- “The question is not if we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. The nation and the worl…”Martin Luther King Jr.
Explore Imagination
- “Growing up, imagination gave way to cynicism. Ignorance was traded in for world weariness. Fears remained, bu…”John McNee
- “Have the imagination, create the vision, go with passion, and take the action; you will achieve all of your g…”Debasish Mridha
- “I learned what research was all about as a research student [with] Stoppani ... Max Perutz, and ... Fred Sang…”César Milstein
READ THE SOURCE
Books by Vladimir Nabokov
Lolita
1991
Ada
1980
Pale Fire
1977
The Real Life of Sebastian Knight
1970
Speak, Memory
1989