Art Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
“Literature is invention. Fiction is fiction. To call a story a true story is an insult to both truth and art.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Lectures on Literature, 1970
Literature creates imagined worlds; labeling fiction as truth disrespects both reality and artistic imagination.
In simple terms: Fiction is imagination, not fact.
Key Takeaway
Respect the distinction between fact and art.
Themes
creativity
truth
art
literature
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- writing
- teaching
- critical analysis
- literary criticism
Key Concepts
fiction
truth
artistic integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate truth from artistic expression?
- What value does fiction hold beyond factual truth?
A Different Perspective
Some readers blur lines, undermining criticism.
![“...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)
