--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Another tormentor inquired if it was true…" description: "\"Another tormentor inquired if it was true that I had installed two ping-pong tables in my basement. I asked, was it a crime? No, he said, but why two? ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/vladimir-nabokov-198_basements_another-tormentor-inquired-if-it-was-tru_1806159.jpg" --- # Another tormentor inquired if it was true that I had… ![“Another tormentor inquired if it was true that I had installed two ping-pong tables in my basement. I asked, was it a crime? No, he said, but why two? Is that a crime? I countered, and they all laughed.” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/vladimir-nabokov-198_basements_another-tormentor-inquired-if-it-was-tru_1806159.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/vladimir-nabokov-198_basements_another-tormentor-inquired-if-it-was-tru_1806159.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/vladimir-nabokov-198_basements_another-tormentor-inquired-if-it-was-tru_1806159.jpg) > “Another tormentor inquired if it was true that I had installed two ping-pong tables in my basement. I asked, was it a crime? No, he said, but why two? Is that a crime? I countered, and they all laughed.” [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A humorous exchange about absurdity and questioning norms, highlighting how trivial details can become comedic focal points. **In simple terms:** Questioning oddities can reveal humor. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity about the absurd. Themes humor absurdity social norms Mood playful lighthearted Type anecdotal humorous When to use this quote - casual conversation - office banter - creative writing - stand‑up comedy Key Concepts existential comedy social critique Questions to Reflect On - Why do we find absurd details funny? - When does humor mask seriousness? A Different Perspective May overlook deeper issues by focusing on trivialities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Mentor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentor/) [Ping pong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ping-pong/) ## Related quotes > [“They know their crime," she said. "They know their shame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alethea-kontis/they-know-their-crime-she-said-they-know-their-shame/) [Alethea Kontis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alethea-kontis/) > [“Perfect crime,' he said softly. 'Yes?' 'Persuade an innocent, idealistic young girl that the future of the human race depends on her sacrificing her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-rogers/perfect-crime-he-said-softly-yes-persuade-an-innocent-idealistic/) [Jane Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-rogers/) > [It is a fact of life that people give dinner parties, and when they invite you, you have to turn around and invite them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/it-is-a-fact-of-life-that-people-give-dinner-parties-and-when-they/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [I hate dainty minds,' answered Marjorie. 'But a girl has to be dainty in person. If she looks like a million dollars she can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-hate-dainty-minds-answered-marjorie-but-a-girl-has-to-be-dainty-in/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I don't have many hobbies. If I think of hobbies, maybe ping pong. But I don't have a desire to get a ping pong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-don-t-have-many-hobbies-if-i-think-of-hobbies-maybe-ping-pong-but-i/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [Whatever I do, I love to win. I don't care if it's tennis or ping pong, I'll kill myself to win it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-pettitte/whatever-i-do-i-love-to-win-i-don-t-care-if-it-s-tennis-or-ping-pong/) [Andy Pettitte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-pettitte/) > [Cogswhallop glanced skeptically at the complex runes. "Are you sure this'll work, gen'ral?" "Of course I'm sure-" Ping. The silvery note echoed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilari-bell/cogswhallop-glanced-skeptically-at-the-complex-runes-are-you-sure/) [Hilari Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilari-bell/) > [Ping-pong was invented on the dining tables of England in the 19th century, and it was called Wiff-waff! And there, I think, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-johnson/ping-pong-was-invented-on-the-dining-tables-of-england-in-the-19th/) [Boris Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-johnson/) > [I mean, how many young women get a set of rubies just for doing something wholesome like swimming laps? Or win a diamond ring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/i-mean-how-many-young-women-get-a-set-of-rubies-just-for-doing/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Wrestling and boxing is like Ping-Pong and rugby. There's no connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rourke/wrestling-and-boxing-is-like-ping-pong-and-rugby-there-s-no-connection/) [Mickey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rourke/) > [Ten times a day something happens to me like this - some strengthening throb of amazement - some good sweet empathic ping and swell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/ten-times-a-day-something-happens-to-me-like-this-some-strengthening/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [I'm a wicked ping-pong player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/i-m-a-wicked-ping-pong-player/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [Whether it's pool or Ping Pong, I can't stand to have my kids beat me. Especially Ping Pong! And when they beat me, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/whether-it-s-pool-or-ping-pong-i-can-t-stand-to-have-my-kids-beat-me/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [My strong game was ping pong. Relentless... steady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-albert/my-strong-game-was-ping-pong-relentless-steady/) [Marv Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-albert/) > [I don't believe in bodybuilders using steroids. If a man doesn't have enough male hormones in his system to create, a nice hard, muscular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-reeves/i-don-t-believe-in-bodybuilders-using-steroids-if-a-man-doesn-t-have/) Steve Reeves ## More by Vladimir Nabokov > [And the rest is rust and stardust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/and-the-rest-is-rust-and-stardust/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [There is no science without fancy and no art without fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/there-is-no-science-without-fancy-and-no-art-without-fact/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“My solemn exasperation was to her the silence of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/my-solemn-exasperation-was-to-her-the-silence-of-love/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [ “...under no circumstances would he \[Humbert Humbert\] have interfered with the innocence of a child, if there was the least risk of a row.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/under-no-circumstances-would-he-humbert-humbert-have-interfered-with/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-cradle-rocks-above-an-abyss-and-common-sense-tells-us-that-our/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Ami azt illeti, Vannak kezdtek nagyon tetszeni a fák is, a csodák is meg az Adák is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/ami-azt-illeti-vannak-kezdtek-nagyon-tetszeni-a-f-k-is-a-csod-k-is/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [We live not only in a world of thoughts, but also in a world of things. Words without experience are meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/we-live-not-only-in-a-world-of-thoughts-but-also-in-a-world-of-things/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“As palavras sem a experiência não teriam qualquer significado.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/as-palavras-sem-a-experi-ncia-n-o-teriam-qualquer-significado/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“It isn’t possible. I cannot imagine it. Come on over here, you foolish little doe, and tell me on what day I shall die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/it-isn-t-possible-i-cannot-imagine-it-come-on-over-here-you-foolish/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Precautions to be taken in the case Of freak reincarnation: what to do On suddenly discovering that you Are now a young and vulnerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/precautions-to-be-taken-in-the-case-of-freak-reincarnation-what-to-do/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [And this is the only immortality you and i may share, my Lolita.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/and-this-is-the-only-immortality-you-and-i-may-share-my-lolita/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Be true to your Dick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/be-true-to-your-dick/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“It is indeed a tricky name. It is often misspelt, because the eye tends to regard the "a" of the first syllable as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/it-is-indeed-a-tricky-name-it-is-often-misspelt-because-the-eye-tends/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“(T)here exist friendships which develop their own inner duration, their own eons of transparent time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/t-here-exist-friendships-which-develop-their-own-inner-duration-their/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“She was all rose and honey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/she-was-all-rose-and-honey/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) [Explore all 883 Vladimir Nabokov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) ## More Basements quotes > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Every time I get in an elevator, the operator says the same thing to me: 'Basement?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/every-time-i-get-in-an-elevator-the-operator-says-the-same-thing-to/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [White Zombie was a bunch of kids with the worst equipment playing in a basement. But that is what is so great about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/white-zombie-was-a-bunch-of-kids-with-the-worst-equipment-playing-in/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [I might be in the basement. I'll go upstairs and check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-escher/i-might-be-in-the-basement-i-ll-go-upstairs-and-check/) [M. C. Escher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-escher/) > [The problem is that the internet IS some kid in a basement with an opinion. The fact that David Bowie and Elton John told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/page-hamilton/the-problem-is-that-the-internet-is-some-kid-in-a-basement-with-an/) [Page Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/page-hamilton/) > [I love getting into the basement of a courthouse, and all the dusty records - all that stuff makes me really happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-cameron/i-love-getting-into-the-basement-of-a-courthouse-and-all-the-dusty/) [Sharon Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-cameron/) > [My husband is a musician. He cooks and he's a chef but he also, he makes basement recordings. So many people in my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/my-husband-is-a-musician-he-cooks-and-he-s-a-chef-but-he-also-he/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [SM is an art. Doing it well requires more than a bag full of expensive whips and exotic electrical toys, a closet full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sm-is-an-art-doing-it-well-requires-more-than-a-bag-full-of-expensive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the green-screen stuff - all the special effects stuff - I shot right there in my house, in the basement in my theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vickie-winans/all-the-green-screen-stuff-all-the-special-effects-stuff-i-shot-right/) Vickie Winans > [We made basement practice songs.To have them presented in such a huge fashion today - like at Primavera, where it's thousands of people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pajo/we-made-basement-practice-songs-to-have-them-presented-in-such-a-huge/) [David Pajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pajo/) > [After my grandfather died I went down to the basement of my family house where my family kept books, anthologies and things and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/after-my-grandfather-died-i-went-down-to-the-basement-of-my-family/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [The massive corruption common in so many developing countries would be quite impossible if Western countries did not provide convenient opportunities to ship ill-gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/the-massive-corruption-common-in-so-many-developing-countries-would/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [Off-the-rack solutions, like bargain basement dresses, never fit anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francoise-giroud/off-the-rack-solutions-like-bargain-basement-dresses-never-fit-anymore/) [Francoise Giroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francoise-giroud/) > [No matter what else you came up against, if you could smile and laugh while a monkey did you with chestnuts in a dank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/no-matter-what-else-you-came-up-against-if-you-could-smile-and-laugh/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) Browse all 243 Basements quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Another tormentor inquired if it was true that I had installed two ping-pong tables in my basement. 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