Between the age limits of nine and fourteen there occur maidens who, to certain bewitched travelers, twice or many times older than they, reveal their true nature which is not human, but nymphic (that is, demoniac); and these chosen creatures I propose to designate as nymphets.

Summary

This quote, taken from the novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, refers to a specific group of young girls between the ages of nine and fourteen. Nabokov suggests that these girls possess a mysterious allure, appearing older to some enchanted individuals. He describes them as nymphets, suggesting that they possess a nature that is not entirely human but rather nymphic or demoniac. This quote highlights the unsettling fascination and desire that these girls may provoke in the novel's protagonist, as well as the moral complexities and controversial themes explored throughout the book.

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