In "Laughter in the Dark," Vladimir Nabokov suggests that gravestones, while having limited space, can serve as a brief summary of a person's life. He implies that even though the essential details can be captured in a few words, additional information enriches the overall portrayal of an individual. This signifies the importance of depth and context in understanding someone's existence.

Nabokov's perspective emphasizes that life's complexities and nuances deserve to be acknowledged, even in a simplified form. By highlighting this, he invites readers to appreciate the fuller picture of human experiences, suggesting that life is much more than what can be inscribed on a stone.