Children Quote by John Steinbeck
““When I was a child growing up in Salinas we called San Francisco “the City”. Of course it was the only city we knew, but I still think of it as the City, and so does everyone else who has ever associated with it. A strange and exclusive work is “city”. Besides San Francisco, only small sections of London and Rome stay in the mind as the City. New Yorkers say they are going to town. Paris has no title but Paris. Mexico City is the Capital. p197””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, 1939
The quote reflects how a single city can dominate a person's mental map, becoming a symbolic “City” that represents more than its geography.
In simple terms: A city can become a mental symbol beyond its size.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how personal experiences shape your perception of places.
Themes
identity
place
memory
cityscape
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
Type
cultural
observational
When to use this quote
- travel
- relocation
- urban planning
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
symbolism
urban identity
collective memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your hometown influence your view of other places?
- What other “Cities” hold symbolic meaning for you?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook other important cities and perspectives.
![“Some of us claim that New York City is the capital of the country, indeed the capital of the world. Now, that may be a bit much for those who don't come from New York, but clearly we are an important city for reasons of our cultural advantages. [David Dinkins ex NYC Mayor]” quote by David Dinkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/35a/david-dinkins-19755_capital_some-of-us-claim-that-new-york-city-is-t_2856117.jpg)
![“Someone handed me Mexico City Blues in St. Paul [Minnesota] in 1959 and it blew my mind. It was the first poetry that spoke my own language.” quote by Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/50e/bob-dylan-168_blues_someone-handed-me-mexico-city-blues-in-s_205495.jpg)
![“I saw what I could [in Mexico City], but we rarely got anything other than big, mainstream American films.” quote by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/442/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu-12_american-film_i-saw-what-i-could-in-mexico-city-but-we_99031.jpg)
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
