"The city of Jahilia is built entirely of sand, its structures formed of the desert whence it rises. It is a sight to wonder at: walled, four-gated, the whole of it a miracle worked by its citizens, who have learned the trick of transforming the fine white dune-sand of those forsaken parts, - the very stuff of inconstancy, - the quintessence of unsettlement, shifting, treachery, lack-of-form, - and have turned it, by alchemy, into the fabric of their newly invented permanence."
Salman Rushdie, from The Satanic Verses, Vintage 2006.
This is part of a collection of featured quotes on cities. They don't necessarily reflect our views, just things that may be interesting. Please feel welcome to add others.
Credits: Image of Djénné, Mali from Gabriel_T.
wonderful quote. it's been so long since i've read satanic verses, can't even remember where this comes in the book. good reason to pick it up again.
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