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Architects today tend to depreciate themselves, to regard themselves as no more than just ordinary citizens without the power to reform the future.
Kenzo Tange
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Architects often underestimate their ability to impact society and the future.

In this quote, Kenzo Tange reflects on the tendency of architects to belittle their own significance, viewing themselves merely as regular citizens rather than influential changemakers. This self-devaluation can hinder their potential to contribute to meaningful societal reform and advancement through their work in architecture.

Themes

ArchitectsSelf-DepreciationImpactFutureSocietyReform

In practice

Example use cases

During a conference on urban planning, a speaker can reference this quote to inspire architects to embrace their influential role.

More from Kenzo Tange

I feel however, that we architects have a special duty and mission... (to contribute) to the socio-cultural development of architecture and urban planning.
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We live in a world where great incompatibles co-exist: the human scale and the superhuman scale, stability and mobility, permanence and change, identity and anonymity, comprehensibility and universality.
Kenzo TangeRead

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