--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That man, especially when he slept, when…" description: "\"“That man, especially when he slept, when his features were motionless, showed me my own face, my mask, the flawlessly pure image of my corpse […] in a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b98/vladimir-nabokov-198_art_that-man-especially-when-he-slept-when-h_1266786.jpg" --- # That man, especially when he slept, when his features were… ![“That man, especially when he slept, when his features were motionless, showed me my own face, my mask, the flawlessly pure image of my corpse […] in a state of perfect repose, this resemblance was strikingly evident, and what is death, if not a face at peace – its artistic perfection? Life only…” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b98/vladimir-nabokov-198_art_that-man-especially-when-he-slept-when-h_1266786.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b98/vladimir-nabokov-198_art_that-man-especially-when-he-slept-when-h_1266786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b98/vladimir-nabokov-198_art_that-man-especially-when-he-slept-when-h_1266786.jpg) > ““That man, especially when he slept, when his features were motionless, showed me my own face, my mask, the flawlessly pure image of my corpse \[…\] in a state of perfect repose, this resemblance was strikingly evident, and what is death, if not a face at peace – its artistic perfection? Life only marred my double; thus a breeze dims the bliss of Narcissus; thus, in the painter’s absence, there comes his pupil and by the superfluous flush of unbidden tints disfigures the portrait painted by the master.”” [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. The narrator sees his own mortality reflected in a sleeping man's still face, equating death with a peaceful, perfect image, while life distorts this purity. **In simple terms:** Seeing death as a calm, pure image, life corrupts it. Key Takeaway Recognize the fleeting perfection in stillness. Themes mortality art selfreflection Mood reflective somber Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - contemplating art - grief processing - meditation on death - creative writing Key Concepts existentialism aesthetics identity Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting mortality change your view of life? - What does the “perfect face” symbolize for you? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize death, ignoring its pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artistic Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic-perfection-3830795/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Disfigures Portrait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disfigures-portrait-4045853/) [Doppelganger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doppelg-nger/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Perfect Repose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-repose-4045855/) [Portrait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portrait/) [Repose Resemblance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repose-resemblance-4045854/) ## Related quotes > [And what is death, if not a face at peace - its artistic perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/and-what-is-death-if-not-a-face-at-peace-its-artistic-perfection/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“I saw myself in a piece of glass that wasn’t a mirror. 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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. 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