Marco polo Quote by Salman Rushdie
““thought of him as a citizen not of New York but of the invisible city of Octavia which Marco Polo described to Kublai Khan in Calvino’s book, a spiderweb city hanging in a great net over an abyss between two mountains.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Invisible Cities by It Calvino, 1972
The quote likens a person to a mythical, unseen metropolis, suggesting an identity beyond ordinary geography, rooted in imagination and literary tradition.
In simple terms: Seeing oneself as part of an imagined, larger world.
Key Takeaway
Embrace a broader, creative self‑concept.
Themes
identity
imagination
literature
place
mythology
Mood
thoughtful
inspired
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- personal reflection
- urban planning
- travel narratives
Key Concepts
metaphor
symbolism
cultural reference
Questions to Reflect On
- How does imagining an invisible city shape your sense of belonging?
- What tangible actions can arise from such a poetic identity?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure concrete realities and practical concerns.
![“Marco reported that homeless children [in Kublai Kahn's city of Daidu] were cared for and educated. While he says little about the system of education in China, we know from records of the time that Kublai Khan created thousands of public schools to provide a basic education for all children…” quote by Russell Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f8c/russell-freedman-22651_children_marco-reported-that-homeless-children-in_1969363.jpg)
