In Nabokov's "Despair," the author presents a provocative idea about the origin of God, suggesting that the concept was crafted by a clever individual during early human history. This notion implies that the idea of a divine being is so intertwined with human experience that it lacks a truly celestial origin, reflecting more of our own traits and flaws than any inherent divinity.

Nabokov's assertion challenges the perception of God as an absolute being, indicating that human creativity and imagination might have played a significant role in shaping such beliefs. By attributing the creation of God to a "scam," he suggests that religious concepts can be viewed through a lens of skepticism, urging readers to reconsider the foundations of faith and the influences behind the idea of divinity.