In his book "Speak, Memory," Vladimir Nabokov presents a profound reflection on the nature of existence. He describes life as a fleeting moment, likened to a brief crack of light amidst two vast eternal darknesses. This imagery evokes a sense of the fragility of human life, with the "cradle" metaphorically rocking over the abyss of non-existence. This perspective highlights the transient beauty of life, contrasting our brief time on earth with the endless voids that surround it.

Nabokov suggests that people generally approach their beginning, symbolized by the prenatal abyss, with more composure than they do the end of life. This observation points to a natural human tendency to fear the unknown future of death more than the oblivion that awaited them before birth. The quote encapsulates the duality of life and death, urging readers to contemplate their own existence within the continuity of time, bridging the known joy of life with the inevitable mystery of what lies beyond.