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Philistinism implies not only a collection of stock ideas but also the use of set phrases, clichés, banalities expressed in faded words. A true philistine has nothing but these trivial ideas of which he entirely consists.

— Vladimir Nabokov Lectures on Russian Literature (1982)

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More quotes by Vladimir Nabokov

I think like a genius, I write like a distinguished author, I speak like a child.

Strong Opinions (1973)

What is this jest in majesty? This ass in passion? How do God and Devil combine to form a live dog?

In due time history will have denounced everybody.

Pale Fire (1962)

Whenever in my dreams, I see the dead, they always appear silent, bothered, strangely depressed, quite unlike their dear bright selves.

Speak, Memory (1951)

The distinct feature of everything extant is its monotony.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Vladimir Nabokov (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.