Without communication Quote by Italo Calvino
““...sometimes different cities follow one another on the same site and under the same name, born and dying without knowing one another, without communication among themselves. At times even the names of the inhabitants remain the same, and their voices’ accent, and also the features of the faces; but the gods who live beneath names and above places have gone off without a word and outsiders have settled in their place. It is pointless to ask whether the new ones are better or worse than the old, since there is no connection between them, just as the old postcards do not depict Maurilia as it was, but a different city which, by chance, was called Maurilia, like this one.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Invisible Cities, Italo Calvino, 1972
Cities can share names and features yet be entirely disconnected, highlighting the fluidity of identity and history.
In simple terms: Cities with same name can be different.
Key Takeaway
Recognize uniqueness beyond labels.
Themes
identity
history
change
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- travel
- urban planning
- genealogy
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
philosophy
urban studies
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a place’s true identity?
- How do we honor past while embracing change?
A Different Perspective
Names alone do not convey true continuity.
