Arms Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
“There are two kinds of visual memory: one when you skillfully recreate an image in the laboratory of your mind, with your eyes open (and then I see Annabel in such general terms as: "honey-colored skin," "thin arms," "brown bobbed hair," "long lashes," "big bright mouth"); 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 (and this is how I see Lolita).”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, 1955
The quote contrasts two types of visual memory: a deliberate, analytical reconstruction versus an immediate, emotional recollection of a face.
In simple terms: Two ways of remembering images: analytical vs. emotional.
Key Takeaway
Recognize both analytical and emotional memory in perception.
Themes
memory
perception
art
psychology
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- reading literature
- artistic creation
- psychological study
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
visual cognition
emotional resonance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance analytical detail with emotional impression?
- When does one type of memory serve you better?
A Different Perspective
Analytical memory may miss the feeling that emotional memory captures.
![“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)
![“...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)
