No writer in a free country should be expected to bother about the exact demarcation between the sensuous and the sensual; this is preposterous; I can only admire but cannot emulate the accuracy of judgment of those who pose the fair young mammals photographed in magazines where the general neckline is just low enough to provoke a past master's chuckle and just high enough not to make a postmaster frown.
The quote discusses the unrealistic expectations placed on writers in free societies regarding the delineation between what is sensuous and what is merely sensual. The author argues that it is unreasonable to hold writers to such rigid standards of judgment. Instead of adhering to strict guidelines, writers should express their creativity without the burden of censoring their work based on societal norms.
The passage also highlights Nabokov's admiration for those who skillfully navigate the challenges of public perception, particularly in the context of artistic expression. He recognizes the delicate balance that photographers maintain in their subjects' presentation, revealing the complexities of how art can provoke various reactions based on subtle cues in presentation.
