Gentleman Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, exhibit number one is what the seraphs, the misinformed, simple, noble-winged seraphs, envied. Look at this tangle of thorns.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Invitation to a Beheading, Vladimir Nabokov, 1936
The speaker envies the pure, simple, noble aspirations of the innocent, contrasting them with tangled, painful reality.
In simple terms: Envy of simple purity amid complexity.
Recognize and appreciate pure intentions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- artistic critique
- moral reflection
- social commentary
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the 'seraph' symbolize for you?
- How can we reconcile pure ideals with messy reality?
It may romanticize simplicity without acknowledging necessary complexity.