Truth Quote by Azar Nafisi
““The truth was that upsilamba was one of Nabokovs fascinating creations, possibly a word he invented. I said I associate Upsilamba with the impossible joy of a suspended leap. Yassi, who seemed excited for no particular reason, cried out that she always thought it could be a name of a dance- you know, "C'mon, baby, do the Upsilamba with me". Manna suggested that the word upsilamba evoked the image of small silver fish leaping in and out of a moonlit lake. Nima added in parentheses, Just so you won't forget me, although you have barred me from your class: an upsilamba to you too! For Azin it was a sound, a melody. Mahashid described an image of three girls jumping rope and shouting" Upsilamba" with each leap. For Sanaz, the word was a small African boy's secret magical name. Mitra wasn't sure why the word reminded her of the paradox of a blissful sigh. And for Nassrin it was a magic code that opened the door to a secret cave filled with treasures.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Forty Days of Musa Dagh, 1998
People assign personal meanings to a whimsical word, reflecting imagination and emotion.
In simple terms: Words can hold many personal symbols.
Explore how language sparks creativity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- creative writing classes
- group storytelling
- personal reflection
- language games
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a shared word shape group identity?
- What personal memories does a word trigger?
Interpretations may differ, leading to confusion in communication.