Memory Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
![“There are two kinds of visual memory: one when you skillfully recreate an image in the laboratory of your mind, [...]; and the other when you instantly evoke, with shut eyes, on the dark innerside of your eyelids, the objective, absolutely optical replica of a beloved face, a little ghost in…” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e09/vladimir-nabokov-198_memory_there-are-two-kinds-of-visual-memory-one_112730.jpg)
““There are two kinds of visual memory: one when you skillfully recreate an image in the laboratory of your mind, [...]; and the other when you instantly evoke, with shut eyes, on the dark innerside of your eyelids, the objective, absolutely optical replica of a beloved face, a little ghost in natural colors.””
About This Quote
Nabokov distinguishes two visual memories: one that reconstructs images deliberately, and another that conjures vivid, involuntary mental pictures of loved ones, like a ghostly imprint on the inner eyelid.
In simple terms: Two ways we recall images: deliberate and instant.
Key Takeaway
Memory can be both crafted and spontaneous.
Themes
memory
visual perception
imagination
nostalgia
cognition
Mood
poetic
wistful
Type
literary
descriptive
When to use this quote
- recalling a loved one's face
- visualizing a design
- dream analysis
- artistic inspiration
Key Concepts
dual‑process theory
mental imagery
Practical Applications
- Use deliberate visualization to improve learning.
Questions to Reflect On
- What triggers the involuntary visual memory?
- How can we harness both types for creativity?
![“...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)
