“Lolita is famous, not I. I am an obscure, doubly obscure, novelist with an unpronounceable name.”
Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977) Russian-American novelist, lepidopterist, professor
Interview with Herbert Gold, The Paris Review Interviews: Writers at Work, 4th series (1977), p. 107 ISBN 0-140-04543-0
Maneka Gandhi (1956) Indian politician and activist
On being driven away by her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi, as quoted in "Son's Widow Quits Gandhi Household" http://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/31/world/son-s-widow-quits-gandhi-household.html, The New York Times (31 March 1982) <br class="br">1981-1990
Rainer Maria Rilke book Letters to a Young Poet
Letter Seven (14 May 1904)
Source: Letters to a Young Poet (1934)
Forest Whitaker (1961) American actor
To Webster Hall curator Baird Jones, reported in the New York Post (11 December 1999); quoted in “Forest Whitaker,” in Hollywood.com http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/forest-whitaker-57300206/.
Stanley Baldwin (1867–1947) Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Speech http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1935/oct/23/international-situation#column_152 in the House of Commons (23 October 1935). <br class="br">1935 <br class="br">Context: The lessons of this crisis have made it clear to us that in the interests of world peace it is essential that our defensive services should be stronger than they are to-day. When I say that I am not thinking of any kind of unilateral rearmament directed either in reality or in imagination against any particular country, as might have been said to be the case before the War. It is a strengthening of our defensive services within the framework of the League, for the sake of international peace, not for selfish ends... I will not be responsible for the conduct of any Government in this country at this present time, if I am not given power to remedy the deficiencies which have accrued in our defensive services since the War.... One of the weaknesses of a democracy, a system of which I am trying to make the best, is that until it is right up against it it will never face the truth.
Source: Odd Thomas (2003), Chapter 1; Odd Thomas's introduction
Elizabeth Itotia (1992) Kenyan nuclear pharmacist (born 1992)
Source: As quoted in an article titled Kenya's First Female Radiopharmaceutical Scientist https://allafrica.com/stories/202107250142.html by Magdalene Wanja published on 25th July, 2021.
Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011) American artist
Quote by John Gruen, in 'The Party's Over Now: Reminiscences of the fifties — New York's artists, writers, musicians, and their friends'; Viking Press, 1972 - ISBN 0-916366-54-5; as cited by by Grace Glueck, in 'New York Times', 2011
1970s - 1980s
