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An iceberg is water striving to be land; a mountain, especially a Himalaya, especially Everest, is land's attempt to metamorphose into sky; it is grounded in flight, the earth mutated--nearly--into air, and become, in the true sense, exalted. Long before she ever encountered the mountain, Allie was aware of its brooding presence in her soul.
Salman Rushdie
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote explores the relationship between the earth and the sky, symbolizing a struggle for transformation and elevation.

In this passage, Salman Rushdie uses the imagery of an iceberg and a mountain to delve into the philosophical themes of aspiration and existence. He portrays the iceberg as water yearning to become land, symbolizing a longing for growth and stability, while the mountain represents the earth's aspirations to rise and reach the sky, illustrating a desire for transcendence. Allie's awareness of the mountain signifies a deep connection to these themes of transformation and the innate human desire to elevate one's being towards something greater.

Themes

TransformationAspirationNatureExistenceMountainIceberg

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational talk about personal growth, one might use this quote to illustrate the idea of striving for one's highest potential.

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In India, as elsewhere in our darkening world, religion is the poison in the blood. Where religion intervenes, mere innocence is no excuse. Yet we go on skating around this issue, speaking of religion in the fashionable language of 'respect.' What is there to respect in any of this, or in any of the crimes now being committed almost daily around the world in religion's dreaded name?
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Reality is a question of perspective; the further you get from the past, the more concrete and plausible it seems - but as you approach the present, it inevitably seems more and more incredible.
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