But let us not forget that cities are like human beings. They are born, they go through childhood and adolescence, they grow old, and eventually they die
Elif SafakRead
Cities are erected on spiritual columns. Like giant mirrors, they reflect the hearts of their residents. If those hearts darken and lose faith, cities will lose their glamour.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Cities reflect the spirit and faith of their inhabitants, and their charm is linked to the people's hearts.
This quote by Elif Safak emphasizes the connection between the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of a city's residents and the overall vitality and appeal of the city itself. It suggests that as the hearts of the people become despondent and lose hope, the city loses its beauty and allure, thus highlighting the importance of community spirit and faith in maintaining the character of a place.
Themes
CitiesFaithHeartsSpiritCommunity
In practice
Example use cases
During a city council meeting discussing revitalization efforts, referencing this quote can highlight the need for community engagement.
More from Elif Safak
All quotes βI like to question cultural biases wherever I go, and I question Islamophobia as much as I question anti-western sentiment because I think all extremist ideologies are very similar.
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Stories cannot demolish frontiers, but they can punch holes in our mental walls, and through those holes we can get a glimpse of the other and sometimes even like what we see.
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What iβm saying is, my friends, one ought to be able to let go. If a path does not please us, instead of insisting on going that specific way, of making our selfishness the guide, we ought to forsake. The books we cannot write, the films we cannot shoot, the projects we cannot develop, the jobs we cannot pursue and the people who no longer love us. Being able to let go, at times, is the most beautiful of all!
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For me, writing stories is one way of feeling connected to the universe and God.
Elif SafakRead
I write as if I were drunk. It is a process of intuition rather than placing myself above my story like a puppeteer pulling strings. For me, it's a scary, chaotic process over which I have little control. Words demand other words, characters resist me.
Elif SafakRead
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