V.V. sought to express something, which expressed had only a twilight being {or even none at all--nothing but the illusion of the backward shadow of its imminent expression}. It was Ada's castle of cards. It was the standing of a metaphor on its head not for the sake of the trick's difficulty, but in order to perceive an ascending waterful or a sunrise in reverse: a triumph, in a sense, over the ardis of time.
by Vladimir Nabokov
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The quote reflects V.V.'s struggle to articulate a complex idea that feels elusive or insubstantial. It's likened to a fragile castle made of cards, representing a delicate and transient concept. The imagery suggests that what he is trying to convey may not yet exist in a clear form, hinting at a deeper, perhaps unachievable truth that exists just beyond his grasp.

Moreover, the metaphor of inverting a waterfall or a sunrise symbolizes a unique perspective on time and existence, aiming to capture something profound and uplifting amidst the chaos. This creative endeavor represents a victory over the constraints of time, suggesting that by seeing things in reverse, one might grasp the beauty and essence hidden within the fleeting moments of life.

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