The quote from Vladimir Nabokov's book "Pnin" suggests a critical viewpoint on psychiatry, comparing it to a microcosm of communism. This analogy implies that psychiatry may impose external solutions on individuals, rather than allowing them to address their personal issues independently. Nabokov seems to advocate for personal agency, emphasizing that people should deal with their problems in their own way.

Furthermore, the question posed in the quote about whether troubles are the only things people can claim ownership of highlights a deeper philosophical inquiry. It provokes thought on individuality and the human experience, questioning the validity of external intervention when individuals may possess the power to cope with their challenges on their own.