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
You can neither lie to a neighbourhood park, nor reason with it. 'Artist's conceptions' and persuasive renderings can put pictures of life into proposed neighbourhood parks or park malls, and verbal rationalizations can conjure up users who ought to appreciate them, but in real life only diverse surroundings have the practical power of inducing a natural, continuing flow of life and use.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True value and use of spaces come from their diverse and natural characteristics rather than imposed ideals.
In this quote, Jane Jacobs emphasizes the importance of genuine and varied environments in urban planning and community spaces like parks. She argues that no amount of artistic representation or persuasive language can substitute for the actual natural and communal qualities that encourage life and activity in these areas, highlighting the need for authenticity in public spaces to foster community engagement and vitality.
Themes
Urban PlanningCommunityDiversityNaturePublic Spaces
In practice
Example use cases
During a town hall meeting discussing the new park design, this quote could spark discussion about community needs.
More from Jane Jacobs
All quotes →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.
Jane JacobsRead
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.
Jane JacobsRead
This is what a city is, bits and pieces that supplement each other and support each other.
Jane JacobsRead
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