Being human is itself difficult, and therefore all kinds of settlements (except dream cities) have problems. Big cities have difficulties in abundance, because they have people in abundance.
Jane JacobsRead
It may be that we have become so feckless as a people that we no longer care how things do work, but only what kind of quick, easy outer impression they give. If so, there is little hope for our cities or probably for much else in our society. But I do not think this is so.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques societal values, emphasizing a concern for superficial appearances over genuine functionality.
Jane Jacobs warns against a societal trend where the focus is on superficial impressions rather than the true workings of our environments. She expresses concern that such attitudes, if pervasive, could lead to the decline of our cities and society at large; however, she remains optimistic that this is not the case and that people still value substance over style.
Themes
SocietySuperficialityValuesCitiesFunctionality
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about urban planning, this quote could be used to emphasize the importance of genuine community engagement over cosmetic changes.
More from Jane Jacobs
All quotes →Streets and their sidewalks-the main public places of a city-are its most vital organs.
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(The psuedoscience of planning seems almost neurotic in its determination to imitate empiric failure and ignore empiric success.)
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Whenever and wherever societies have flourished and prospered rather than stagnated and decayed, creative and workable cities have been at the core of the phenomenon. Decaying cities, declining economies, and mounting social troubles travel together. The combination is not coincidental.
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This is what a city is, bits and pieces that supplement each other and support each other.
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This is something everyone knows: A well-used city street is apt to be a safe street. A deserted city street is apt to be unsafe.
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