Constitution Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
““The hoary judge put his mouth close to his ear, panted for a moment, made the announcement and slowly moved away, as though ungluing himself.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Hoary Judge”, 1928
A judge, after announcing a decision, seems to physically detach himself, suggesting a surreal or detached demeanor.
In simple terms: A judge appears to separate himself from his role after speaking.
Key Takeaway
Observe how authority can seem detached or unreal.
Themes
authority
detachment
surrealism
performance
Mood
odd
reflective
surreal
Type
literary
descriptive
symbolic
When to use this quote
- courtroom scene
- character study
- symbolic action
Key Concepts
judicial power
psychological distance
literary surrealism
Questions to Reflect On
- Why does the judge seem to unglue himself?
- What does this convey about his state?
A Different Perspective
The description may be hyperbolic, not literal, reducing factual accuracy.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.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)
