Marco Polo describes a bridge, stone by stone.

“But which is the stone that supports the bridge?” Kublai Khan asks.

“The bridge is not supported by one stone or another,” Marco answers, “but by

the line of the arch that they form.”

Kublai Khan remains silent, reflecting. Then he adds, “Why do you speak to

me of stones? It is only the arch that matters to me.”

Polo answers: “Without stones there is no arch.”