Quotes from Transparent Things

Vladimir Nabokov ·  105 pages

Rating: (2.7K votes)


“Perhaps if the future existed, concretely and individually, as something that could be discerned by a better brain, the past would not be so seductive: its demands would be balanced by those of the future.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things


“This is, I believe, it: not the crude anguish of physical death but the incomparable pangs of the mysterious mental maneuver needed to pass from one state of being to another.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things


“Easy, you know, does it, son.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things


“ 'I shall vomit,' said Hugh, 'if you persist in pestering me with all that odious rot.' ”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things


“Mas o amor, dizia ele, era tudo menos credível, a vida real era ridícula, os labregos riam-se do amor.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things



“According to my almond-eyed little spy, the great surgeon, may his own liver rot, lied to me when he declared yesterday with a deathhead's grin that the operazione had been perfetta. Well, it had been so in the sense Euler called zero the perfect number. Actually, they ripped me open, cast one horrified look at my decayed fegato, and without touching it sewed me up again.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things


“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 likelier than 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.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things


“He loved her in spite of her unlovableness. Armande had many trying, though not necessarily rare, traits, all of which he accepted as absurd clues in a clever puzzle.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things


“and he, Hugh Person....began to undress her in the motels of his mind”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things


“Eis a pessoa que eu quero. Olá, pessoa! Não me ouve.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, quote from Transparent Things



About the author

Vladimir Nabokov
Born place: in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
Born date April 22, 1899
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Popular quotes

“Winter looked at Leven. Leven looked right back at her. Winter's cheeks burned red and her green eyes outshone Leven's. The two of them stared at one another and then, as if they were destined to, thay began to lean into one another, Leven closed his eyes.
"What are you doing?" Geth asked concerned.
Winter closed his eyes too and leaned close. Both of them looked panicked and out of control, but it didn't stop them from moving closer and kissing each other.
Clover's jaw dropped and he pulled something out of his void just so he could let go of it in shock.”
― Obert Skye, quote from Leven Thumps and the Wrath of Ezra


“Edgard wasn’t convinced the three of them together out on the town was the best idea. “You sure you want me to come along, Chassie? I don’t wanna be a third wheel.”

“Trev is relieved to be off the dancin’ hook, aren’t you, hon?”

“Yep. I’ll be more’n happy to hold down a barstool and guard the beer while you’re two-steppin’.” Trevor gave Edgard a genuine grin. “You don’t know what you’re in for, Ed. Chassie can go all night.”

“I’m the lucky man to test your stamina? All night?” He grinned. “I’m all over that.”

“I’ll bet a guy like you has plenty of stayin’ power,” Chassie shot back with a sexy growl. “I’m lucky, showin’ up with the two hottest guys in the county. That uppity Brandy Martinson is so gonna eat her heart out.”

“I’m sure she’s used to no one noticing her when you’re in the room, sweetheart,”

Edgard drawled.

“Ed, stop flirtin’ with my wife.”
― Lorelei James, quote from Rough, Raw, and Ready


“No one escapes being hurt in this life, because unfortunately, we live in a fallen world. But please believe me when I say there's a great gift in pain.”
― Julie Lessman, quote from A Heart Revealed


“Ich bin nicht Gott. Wunderbare Idee, das gebe ich zu, aber ich bin trotzdem nicht Gott. Möchtest du Gott begegnen? Wir könnten bestimmt einen der Künstler finden, der ihn für dich aus Ton abbilden oder auf der Leinwand darstellen würde.”
― Harlan Ellison, quote from I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream


“It took a back seat when I was given a mate so hot that he could cook bacon on his abs.”
― Quinn Loftis, quote from Fate and Fury


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