QuoteProject
New York is a diamond iceberg floating in river water.
Truman Capote
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote describes New York as both precious and complex, reflecting its unique essence.

Truman Capote’s comparison of New York to a 'diamond iceberg floating in river water' highlights the city's multifaceted beauty and the raw, turbulent environment surrounding it. The 'diamond' suggests the city’s brilliance and value, while the 'iceberg' represents its hidden depth and struggles beneath the surface, illustrating how NYC can be both enchanting and challenging.

Themes

New YorkCityBeautyComplexityStrugglesMetaphor

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote to inspire artists at a gallery opening focused on urban landscapes.

More from Truman Capote

I want to still be me when I wake up one fine morning and have breakfast at Tiffany´s.
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All writing, all art, is an act of faith. If one tries to contribute to human understanding, how can that be called decadent? It's like saying a declaration of love is an act of decadence. Any work of art, provide it springs from a sincere motivation to further understanding between people, is an act of faith and therefore is an act of love.
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No one will ever know what 'In Cold Blood' took out of me. It scraped me right down to the marrow of my bones. It nearly killed me. I think, in a way, it did kill me.
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Hot weather opens the skull of a city, exposing its white brain, and its heart of nerves, which sizzle like the wires inside a lightbulb. And there exudes a sour extra-human smell that makes the very stone seem flesh-alive, webbed and pulsing.
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I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together.
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The quietness of his tone italicized the malice of his reply.
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