Quotes from book
Pale Fire

Pale Fire
Vladimir Nabokov

Pale Fire is a 1962 novel by Vladimir Nabokov. The novel is presented as a 999-line poem titled "Pale Fire", written by the fictional poet John Shade, with a foreword, lengthy commentary and index written by Shade's neighbor and academic colleague, Charles Kinbote. Together these elements form a narrative in which both fictional authors are central characters.

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“There was a time in my demented youth
When somehow I suspected that the truth
About survival after death was known
To every human being: I alone
Knew nothing, and a great conspiracy
Of books and people hid the truth from me.”

Vladimir Nabokov book Pale Fire

Source: Pale Fire

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“We are most artistically caged.”

Vladimir Nabokov book Pale Fire

Source: Pale Fire

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“All colors made me happy: even gray.
My eyes were such that literally they
Took photographs.”

Vladimir Nabokov book Pale Fire

Source: Pale Fire

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“Dear Jesus, do something.”

Vladimir Nabokov book Pale Fire

Source: Pale Fire

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“All the seven deadly sins are peccadilloes but without three of them, Pride, Lust, and Sloth, poetry might never have been born.”

Vladimir Nabokov book Pale Fire

Source: Pale Fire

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“We can at last describe his tie, an Easter gift from a dressy butcher, his brother in law in Onhava: imitation silk, colour chocolate brown barred with red, the end tucked into the shirt between the second and third buttons - a Zemblan fashion of the nineteen thirties.”

Vladimir Nabokov book Pale Fire

Pale Fire (1962)

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“The lost glove is happy.”

Vladimir Nabokov book Pale Fire

Source: Pale Fire

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“A thousand years ago five minutes were
Equal to forty ounces of fine sand.
Outstare the stars. Infinite foretime and
Infinite aftertime: above your head
They close like giant wings, and you are dead.”

Vladimir Nabokov book Pale Fire

Source: Pale Fire

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“The sun is a thief: she lures the sea
and robs it. The moon is a thief:
he steals his silvery light from the sun.
The sea is a thief: it dissolves the moon.”

Vladimir Nabokov book Pale Fire

Source: Pale Fire