I qualify it as pathetic. Pathetic--because despite the insatiable fire of my venereal appetite, I intended, with the most fervent force and foresight, to protect the purity of that twelve-year-old child.
Vladimir Nabokov Lolita
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In Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Lolita," the narrator expresses a profound internal conflict regarding his desires and intentions. He acknowledges the intense and uncontrollable nature of his lust but juxtaposes it with his determination to safeguard the innocence of a young girl. This duality captures a tragic irony in his mindset, suggesting that even with his overwhelming urges, he recognizes the moral obligation to protect the child’s purity.

The term "pathetic" highlights the narrator's self-awareness of his own depravity and the grotesque nature of his predilections. His fervent intention to shield the girl from the damage of his cravings underscores a disturbing aspect of his character, reflecting the complexity of desire and moral responsibility. Through this, Nabokov delves into themes of obsession and the moral implications of one's actions, showcasing the inner turmoil of the narrator as he grapples with his impulses versus his ethical considerations.

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Lolita
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Other quotes in Lolita

...under no circumstances would he {Humbert Humbert} have interfered with the innocence of a child, if there was the least risk of a row.
Vladimir Nabokov Lolita
...under no circumstances would he {Humbert Humbert} have interfered with the innocence of a child, if there was the least risk of a row.
Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
Vladimir Nabokov Lolita
Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
The peaceful and vague regions in which I was moving were the heritage of the poets, not the crime land
Vladimir Nabokov Lolita
The peaceful and vague regions in which I was moving were the heritage of the poets, not the crime land
It was dark; Kisha and hopelessness. My headlights were overhanging over a wide ditch filled with water. The surrounding area, if there was one, was reduced to a black desert. I struggled to get out, but my rear wheels were only howling in the wet and grief.
Vladimir Nabokov Lolita
It was dark; Kisha and hopelessness. My headlights were overhanging over a wide ditch filled with water. The surrounding area, if there was one, was reduced to a black desert. I struggled to get out, but my rear wheels were only howling in the wet and grief.
I had possessed her - and she never knew it.
Vladimir Nabokov Lolita
I had possessed her - and she never knew it.
You have to be an artist and a madman, a creature of infinite melancholy,... in order to discern at once, by ineffable signs,...the little deadly demon...; she stands unrecognized by them and unconscious herself of her fantastic power.
Vladimir Nabokov Lolita
You have to be an artist and a madman, a creature of infinite melancholy,... in order to discern at once, by ineffable signs,...the little deadly demon...; she stands unrecognized by them and unconscious herself of her fantastic power.
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Other quotes in book quote

All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Edward Gorey Ascending Peculiarity:...
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
I don't have anything against God. Far from it. But I don't understand Him. And I don't trust a lot of the people that go around claiming that they're working in His best interests.
Jim Butcher Grave Peril
I don't have anything against God. Far from it. But I don't understand Him. And I don't trust a lot of the people that go around claiming that they're working in His best interests.
I found Esau's field guide at the bottom of my pack. Taking a candle into the bedroom, I read his book until my eyes grew heavy. From his vast notes, it seemed that almost every plant and tree in the jungle had a reason for existing. I caught myself wishing there was a page in his guide that had my picture on it with the reason for my existence written underneath in Esau's neat hand.
Maria V. Snyder Magic Study
I found Esau's field guide at the bottom of my pack. Taking a candle into the bedroom, I read his book until my eyes grew heavy. From his vast notes, it seemed that almost every plant and tree in the jungle had a reason for existing. I caught myself wishing there was a page in his guide that had my picture on it with the reason for my existence written underneath in Esau's neat hand.
{...} what I wish for Chizalum is the following: that she is full of opinions, and that her opinions stem from a well-informed, humane, and open mind. That she have health and happiness. That she have the life she wants to have.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Dear Ijeawele, or A...
{...} what I wish for Chizalum is the following: that she is full of opinions, and that her opinions stem from a well-informed, humane, and open mind. That she have health and happiness. That she have the life she wants to have.
«In memory of the countless men and women of all creeds, nations, and races who fell victim to the fascist and communist belief in the Inexorable Laws of Historical Destiny.»
Mario Vargas Llosa The call of the tribe
«In memory of the countless men and women of all creeds, nations, and races who fell victim to the fascist and communist belief in the Inexorable Laws of Historical Destiny.»
"That's a huge gamble." "We're long past the time for careful certainty."
Peter F. Hamilton The Evolutionary Void
"That's a huge gamble." "We're long past the time for careful certainty."
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