"Revelation can be more perilous than Revolution"
- Vladimir Nabokov
About this Quote
This quote by Vladimir Nabokov suggests that the effects of revelation can be more damaging than those of transformation. Revolution is an abrupt and dramatic change, typically including violence and turmoil, while discovery is the revealing of something that was formerly hidden. In this sense, discovery can be more hazardous than transformation because it can cause a higher sense of betrayal and shock. For instance, if a leader is revealed to have been corrupt or unethical, the public may be more outraged than if the leader had actually been overthrown in a transformation. Similarly, if a secret is revealed that has the possible to trigger harm, the repercussions can be much more damaging than if the secret had stayed hidden. In this way, Nabokov's quote suggests that revelation can be more treacherous than revolution.
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