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Glory Quote by Vladimir Nabokov

“How much happier the wide-awake indolents, the monarchs among men, the rich monstrous brains deriving intense enjoyment and rapturous pangs from the balustrade of a terrace at nightfall, from the lights and the lake below, from the distant mountain shapes melting into the dark apricot of the…” quote by Vladimir Nabokov
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““How much happier the wide-awake indolents, the monarchs among men, the rich monstrous brains deriving intense enjoyment and rapturous pangs from the balustrade of a terrace at nightfall, from the lights and the lake below, from the distant mountain shapes melting into the dark apricot of the afterglow, from the black conifers outlined against the pale ink of the zenith, and from the garnet and green flounces of the water along the silent, sad, forbidden shoreline. Oh my sweet Boscobel! And the tender and terrible memories, and the shame, and the glory, and the maddening intimations, and the star that no party member can ever reach.””

Vladimir Nabokov

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Gift, 1938

He marvels at the sensory richness of a night scene, linking beauty, memory, and longing in poetic description.

In simple terms: He describes a beautiful night and its emotional impact.

Key Takeaway

Notice how surroundings stir deep feelings.

Themes

a memory beauty

Mood

poetic nostalgic

Type

literary reflective

When to use this quote

  • writing inspiration
  • art appreciation
  • night walks

Key Concepts

aesthetic experience sensory perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • What emotions does the night evoke?
  • How does setting shape memory?
A Different Perspective

Such lush description can be seen as overly ornate.

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