Art Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
““I was crazy about goal keeping. In Russia and the Latin countries, that gallant art had been always surrounded with a halo of singular glamour. Aloof, solitary, impassive, the crack goalie is followed in the streets by entranced small boys. He vies with the matador and the flying ace as an object of thrilled adulation. His sweater, his peaked cap, his kneeguards, the gloves protruding from the hip pocket of his shorts, set him apart from the rest of the team. He is the lone eagle, the man of mystery, the last defender. Photographers, reverently bending one knee, snap him in the act of making a spectacular dive across the goal mouth to deflect with his fingertips a low, lightning-like shot, and the stadium roars in approval as he remains for a moment or two lying full length where he fell, his goal still intact.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Gift by Vladimir Nabokov, 1938
The passage celebrates the goalkeeper’s solitary heroism and mythic status, likening him to celebrated figures and emphasizing his dramatic, admired role.
In simple terms: Goalkeepers are portrayed as lone heroes admired by fans.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and value the unique contributions of solitary roles.
Themes
heroism
celebration
loneliness
mythic
sport
Mood
admiring
dramatic
nostalgic
Type
literary
descriptive
When to use this quote
- team sports
- media coverage
- fan culture
- celebration of individual skill
Key Concepts
identity
spectacle
adulation
performance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does individual heroism affect team dynamics?
- What pressures arise from being idolized?
A Different Perspective
The focus on glamour may overlook the teamwork and effort behind success.
![“...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)
