Art Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
“Beauty plus pity-that is the closest we can get to a definition of art. Where there is beauty there is pity for the simple reason that beauty must die: beauty always dies, the manner dies with the matter, the world dies with the individual.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Lolita, 1955
Art intertwines beauty and pity, as beauty’s inevitable decay evokes sorrow.
In simple terms: Art mixes beauty with inevitable sorrow.
Key Takeaway
Recognize beauty’s fleeting nature.
Themes
art
philosophy
beauty
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- creative writing
- philosophical essays
Key Concepts
mortality
aesthetic tragedy
emotional depth
Questions to Reflect On
- How does awareness of mortality shape artistic expression?
- Can beauty exist without associated pity?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on decay may dim appreciation.
![“...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)
