--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You lose your immortality when you lose…" description: "\"You lose your immortality when you lose your memory.\" — Vladimir Nabokov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/vladimir-nabokov-198_death_you-lose-your-immortality-when-you-lose_3035152.jpg" --- # You lose your immortality when you lose your memory. ![“You lose your immortality when you lose your memory.” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/vladimir-nabokov-198_death_you-lose-your-immortality-when-you-lose_3035152.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/vladimir-nabokov-198_death_you-lose-your-immortality-when-you-lose_3035152.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/vladimir-nabokov-198_death_you-lose-your-immortality-when-you-lose_3035152.jpg) > “You lose your immortality when you lose your memory.” [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. Memory defines identity; losing it erases the sense of self. **In simple terms:** Without memory, you lose who you are. Key Takeaway Preserve memories. Themes identity memory existence Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - aging - trauma - neurodegenerative disease Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What memories shape you? - How can we protect our memories? A Different Perspective Memory loss can be mitigated by external records. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) ## Related quotes > [I believe we lose immortality because we have not conquered our opposition to death; we keep insisting on the primary, rudimentary idea: that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolfo-bioy-casares/i-believe-we-lose-immortality-because-we-have-not-conquered-our/) [Adolfo Bioy Casares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolfo-bioy-casares/) > [I always thought if I photographed anyone or anything enough, I would never lose the person, I would never lose the memory, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-always-thought-if-i-photographed-anyone-or-anything-enough-i-would/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [Database: the information you lose when your memory crashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/database-the-information-you-lose-when-your-memory-crashes/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The only time I lose is when it's my memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/the-only-time-i-lose-is-when-it-s-my-memory/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [“So couples relive romantic memories, families watch home movies, and friends "catch up" with each other, as if they've lagged behind on a trail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/so-couples-relive-romantic-memories-families-watch-home-movies-and/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [When you lose someone, their memory lives on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/when-you-lose-someone-their-memory-lives-on/) [Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/) > [They say you lose your memory as you grow older. I say 'forget about the past' and live life to the fullest today. Start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-you-lose-your-memory-as-you-grow-older-i-say-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we lose our memory, we lose ourselves. Forgetting is one of the symptoms of death. Without memory we cease to be human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-klima/if-we-lose-our-memory-we-lose-ourselves-forgetting-is-one-of-the/) [Ivan Klíma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-klima/) > [If we lose our culture, we lose our memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/if-we-lose-our-culture-we-lose-our-memory/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [Where would dictators be without our compliant amnesia? Make the collective lose its memory, you can conceal anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/where-would-dictators-be-without-our-compliant-amnesia-make-the/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [You have to begin to lose your memory, if only in bits and pieces, to realize that memory is what makes our lives. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/you-have-to-begin-to-lose-your-memory-if-only-in-bits-and-pieces-to/) [Luis Buñuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [We may lose our memory as we get older, but this might not be such a bad thing - who wants to drag a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/we-may-lose-our-memory-as-we-get-older-but-this-might-not-be-such-a/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [Well, I'm not able to work anymore as an actor and still at the level I would want to ... you start to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/well-i-m-not-able-to-work-anymore-as-an-actor-and-still-at-the-level/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I'm not able to work anymore as an actor and still at the level I would want to... you start to lose your memory.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-m-not-able-to-work-anymore-as-an-actor-and-still-at-the-level-i/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I hope that memory is valued - that we do not lose memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-hope-that-memory-is-valued-that-we-do-not-lose-memory/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## 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 Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. 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