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It's a funny thing about cities: Some have brief, bright moments of cultural and political dominance, decades- or centuries-long spells when they seem the center of their particular nation, or region, or empire... only to later fall into obscurity and disrepair, never to regain their former glory.
Hanya Yanagihara
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Cities experience fleeting periods of prominence before fading into obscurity.

Hanya Yanagihara's quote reflects on the transient nature of cities and their cultural significance. It suggests that even great centers of power and influence can lose their prominence over time, becoming mere shadows of their former glory, which serves as a reminder of the impermanence of achievement and recognition in human history.

Themes

CitiesCultural DominanceObscurityImpermanenceHistory

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about urban development, one might say, 'It's a funny thing about cities, as Yanagihara notes, they can rise and fall in prominence.'

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