Books Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
““My knowledge of Mr. Forster’s works is limited to one novel which I dislike; and anyway it was not he who fathered that trite little whimsy about characters getting out of hand; it is as old as the quills, although of course one sympathizes with his people if they try to wriggle out of that trip to India or whereever he takes them. My characters are galley slaves.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing “The Gift” and literary influences, 1970
Nabokov critiques the overuse of whimsical tropes in literature, noting his own work feels constrained like a galley slave.
In simple terms: He finds certain literary trends trite and feels trapped by them.
Key Takeaway
Seek originality and avoid clichéd narrative devices.
Themes
literature
creativity
critique
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- literary analysis
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
originality
authorial freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines originality in storytelling?
- How can writers break free from conventional expectations?
A Different Perspective
Some readers may still enjoy familiar tropes.
![“...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)
