Vladimir Nabokov

"A laugh is the first sign of understanding."

"The soul does not require food; it requires mystery."

"Every word carries the weight of all its previous uses."

"Health is the foundation upon which happiness is built."

"The greatest invention of humanity is the book."

"Confidence is simply the refusal to admit doubt."

"The invisible thread connecting all things is what we call love."

"A man who reads is a man who thinks."

"The war between the real and the imagined is where art lives."

"Motivation is temporary; discipline is eternal."

"Inspiration is the by-product of hard work."

"The greatest weapon against despair is hope."

"A person is not defined by their past but by their refusal to be defined by it."

"Imagination is a form of memory."

"The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness."

"A writer should have the precision of a poet and the imagination of a scientist."

"Pain is the main thing that connects us to reality."

"The only real number is one; all other numbers are mere repetitions."

"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it."

"Literature and butterflies are the two sweetest passions known to man."

"Being aware of one's disease is half the cure."

"The difference between the poet and the madman is that the poet has control of his fantasy."

"Time is a prison, but consciousness may be free."

"Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt."

"Memory can be a malady as well as a gift."

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and imprisonment."

"The cradle of the novel is the letter."

"Every work of art is a work of cheating and deceit."

"I think it is all a matter of love; any man can die for his country, but how many can love it."

"The artist should be like an iceberg—most of his work should be below the surface."