Sleep is the most moronic fraternity in the world, with the heaviest dues and the crudest rituals. It is a mental torture I find debasing... I simply cannot get used to the nightly betrayal of reason, humanity, genius.
In "Speak, Memory," Vladimir Nabokov reflects on the complexities of sleep, describing it as a foolish and burdensome process. He perceives sleep as a fraternity that demands significant sacrifice while subjecting individuals to perplexing rites, making it feel like a form of mental torment. Nabokov is critical of how sleep betrays the rational mind, reducing human potential and creativity to a state of inactivity.
Through his vivid portrayal, he expresses deep...
