Animal Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
![“As far as I can recall, the initial shiver of inspiration [for Lolita] was somehow prompted by a newspaper story about an ape in the Jardin des Plantes, who, after months of coaxing by a scientist, produced the first drawing ever charcoaled by an animal: this sketch showed the bars of the poor…” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/090/vladimir-nabokov-198_animal_as-far-as-i-can-recall-the-initial-shive_715401.jpg)
“As far as I can recall, the initial shiver of inspiration [for Lolita] was somehow prompted by a newspaper story about an ape in the Jardin des Plantes, who, after months of coaxing by a scientist, produced the first drawing ever charcoaled by an animal: this sketch showed the bars of the poor creature's cage.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1975, The Paris Review, "Nabokov on Lolita"
Nabokov describes a bizarre anecdote that sparked his creative imagination for Lolita, linking animal art to human storytelling.
In simple terms: A strange animal drawing inspired his novel.
Key Takeaway
Notice unexpected sources of inspiration.
Themes
creativity
inspiration
art
literature
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
anecdotal
literary
When to use this quote
- writing a novel
- teaching art
- exploring animal cognition
- seeking novel metaphors
Key Concepts
psychology
symbolism
cross‑species communication
Questions to Reflect On
- What unconventional sources have sparked your ideas?
- How do you assess the value of a random inspiration?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may be apocryphal, and its relevance to the novel's themes is tenuous.
![“...under no circumstances would he [Humbert Humbert] have interfered with the innocence of a child, if there was the least risk of a row.” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f0/vladimir-nabokov-198_children_under-no-circumstances-would-he-humbert_16228.jpg)
