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Quote by Vladimir Nabokov

“The term "bend sinister" means a heraldic bar or band drawn from the left side (and popularly, but incorrectly, supposed to denote bastardy). This choice of title was an attempt to suggest an outline broken by refraction, a distortion in the mirror of being, a wrong turn taken by life, a sinistral and sinister world. The title's drawback is that a solemn reader looking for "general ideas" or "human interest" (which is much the same thing) in a novel may be led to look for them in this one.”

Quote by Vladimir Nabokov

Author

Vladimir Nabokov

Russian-born American novelist, best known for his novel 'Lolita'. Nabokov is renowned for his unique literary style and profound use of language and symbolism. more

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“In this crazy mirror of terror and art a pseudo-quotation made up of obscure Shakespeareanisms (Chapter Three) somehow produces, despite its lack of literal meaning, the blurred diminutive image of the acrobatic performance that so gloriously supplies the bravura ending for the next chapter.”

Art Made Three Next Crazy Produce Performances Mirrors Terror Despite Chapters Quotations Obscure Literal Supplies Pseudo Next Chapter

Book:Novels and Memoirs, 1941-1951

Source: Novels and Memoirs, 1941-1951

“Derivative writers seem versatile because they imitate many others, past and present. Artistic originality has only itself to copy.”

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Author:Vladimir Nabokov

“Direct interference in a person's life does not enter our scope of activity, nor, on the other, tralatitiously speaking, hand, is his destiny a chain of predeterminate links: some 'future' events may be linked to others, O.K., but all are chimeric, and every cause-and-effect sequence is always a hit-and-miss affair, even if the lunette has actually closed around your neck, and the cretinous crowd holds its breath.”

Source: Transparent things: a novel

“I don't belong to any club or group. I don't fish, cook, dance, endorse books, sign books, co-sign declarations, eat oysters, get drunk, go to church, go to analysts, or take part in demonstrations.”

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Author:Vladimir Nabokov

“Four times, under our educational rules, the human pack is shuffled and cut - at eleven-plus, sixteen-plus, eighteen-plus and twenty-plus - and happy is he who comes top of the deck on each occasion, but especially the last. This is called Finals, the very name of which implies that nothing of importance can happen after it.”

Humans Happens Lasts Names Four Cutting Importance Twenties Finals Educational Occasions Plus Packs Eleven Eighteen Sixteen Deck

Author:David Lodge

“I'm a bit of a deconstructionist myself. It's kind of exciting - the last intellectual thrill left. Like sawing through the branch you're sitting on.”

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Book:The Campus Trilogy: Changing Places; Small World; Nice Work

Source: The Campus Trilogy: Changing Places; Small World; Nice Work

“Language is the net that holds thought trapped within a particular culture. But if one could only strike the ball with sufficient force, with perfect timing, it would perhaps break through the netting, continue on its course, never fall to earth, but go into orbit around the world.”

Source: The Campus Trilogy: Changing Places; Small World; Nice Work

“That's the attraction of the conference circuit: it's a way of converting work into play, combining professionalism with tourism, and all at someone else's expense. Write a paper and see the world! I'm Jane Austen - fly me!”

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Book:The Campus Trilogy: Changing Places; Small World; Nice Work

Source: The Campus Trilogy: Changing Places; Small World; Nice Work

“I respect a man who can recognize a quotation. It's a dying art.”

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Book:The Campus Trilogy: Changing Places; Small World; Nice Work

Source: The Campus Trilogy: Changing Places; Small World; Nice Work

“It is the moral element contained in it that alone gives value and dignity to a religion, and only in so far as its teachings serve to stimulate and purify our moral aspirations does it deserve to retain its ascendency over mankind.”

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