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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…” quote by Azar Nafisi
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““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.””

Azar Nafisi

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.

Key Takeaway

Explore how language sparks creativity.

Themes

imagination personal meaning language creativity

Mood

playful reflective

Type

creative inspirational

When to use this quote

  • writing workshops
  • creative writing classes
  • group storytelling
  • personal reflection
  • language games

Key Concepts

symbolism subjective interpretation cognitive association

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does a shared word shape group identity?
  • What personal memories does a word trigger?
A Different Perspective

Interpretations may differ, leading to confusion in communication.

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