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It may look as though I do not know how to start. Funny…

“It may look as though I do not know how to start. Funny sight, the elderly gentleman who comes lumbering by, jowl flesh flopping, in a valiant dash for the last bus, which he eventually overtakes but is afraid to board in motion and so, with a sheepish smile, drops back, still going at a trot. Is…” quote by Vladimir Nabokov
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““It may look as though I do not know how to start. Funny sight, the elderly gentleman who comes lumbering by, jowl flesh flopping, in a valiant dash for the last bus, which he eventually overtakes but is afraid to board in motion and so, with a sheepish smile, drops back, still going at a trot. Is it that I dare not make the leap? It roars, gathers speed, will presently vanish irrevocably around the corner, the bus, the motorbus, the mighty montibus of my tale. Rather bulky imagery, this. I am still running.””

Vladimir Nabokov

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator observes an elderly man's hesitant attempt to catch a bus, reflecting on fear of taking risks and the momentum of life.

In simple terms: An old man hesitates before boarding a bus, symbolizing fear of change.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uncertainty and act before hesitation stalls you.

Themes

fear hesitation aging change momentum

Mood

reflective thoughtful inspirational

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • public transportation
  • personal decisions
  • career moves
  • creative projects

Key Concepts

existentialism human behavior time perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • What opportunities are you hesitating to pursue?
  • How does momentum affect your choices?
A Different Perspective

The vivid description may exaggerate the mundane; real fear can be less dramatic.

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