Books Quote by Vladimir Nabakov
““Thus, neither of us is alive when the reader opens this book. But while the blood still throbs through my writing hand, you are still as much part of blessed matter as I am, and I can still talk to you from here to Alaska. Be true to your Dick. Do not let other fellows touch you. Do not talk to strangers. I hope you will love your baby. I hope it will be a boy. That husband of yours, I hope, will always treat you well, because otherwise my specter shall come at him, like black smoke, like a demented giant, and pull him apart nerve by nerve. And do not pity C. Q. One had to choose between him and H.H., and one wanted H.H. to exist at least a couple of months longer, so as to have him make you live in the minds of later generations. I am thinking of aurochs and angels, the secret of durable pigments, prophetic sonnets, the refuge of art. And this is the only immortality you and I may share, my Lolita.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov, 1955
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of life, the desire for connection through writing, and the wish for protection and legacy for loved ones.
In simple terms: Writing links us beyond death; love and protection matter.
Key Takeaway
Cherish connections and protect loved ones.
Themes
mortality
connection
legacy
protection
art
Mood
melancholic
reflective
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
emotional
When to use this quote
- family bonds
- creative writing
- parental guidance
- protecting loved ones
Key Concepts
existentialism
literary metafiction
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you seek lasting impact?
- What protects you from feeling isolated?
A Different Perspective
The narrator’s intense personal wishes may not apply universally.
