Agnosticism Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
““If I am not master of my life, not sultan of my own being, then no man's logic and no man's ecstatic fits may force me to find less silly my impossibly silly position: that of God's slave; no, not his slave even, but just a match which is aimlessly struck and then blown out by some inquisitive child, the terror of his toys.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Ada, 1969
The speaker rejects external control, insisting on personal agency despite chaotic forces.
In simple terms: Self‑mastery over external chaos.
Key Takeaway
Assert your own will.
Themes
self‑determination
freedom
existentialism
Mood
introspective
defiant
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career choices
- relationships
- creative work
- political activism
Key Concepts
agency
absurdity
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does being a “slave” mean to you?
- How can you maintain autonomy?
A Different Perspective
May underestimate societal constraints.
![“I want you to understand that I respect the rights of the poorest and weakest of colored people, oppressed [to deny others their rights or liberty] by the slave system, just as much as I do those of the most wealthy and powerful. That is the idea that has moved me, and that alone.” quote by John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/john-brown-15897_deny_i-want-you-to-understand-that-i-respect_2400722.jpg)
![“...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)
