Jane Jacobs Quotes

A collection of quotes by Jane Jacobs.

Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was an influential urbanist, writer, and activist. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she later moved to New York City and became renowned for her groundbreaking work on urban planning and the importance of vibrant, diverse neighborhoods. Her most famous book, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" (1961), challenged prevailing urban planning theories and championed the value of community, local economies, and mixed-use neighborhoods. Jacobs' ideas continue to shape urban planning and her advocacy for livable cities has left a lasting impact on urban design worldwide.

To science, not even the bark of a tree or a drop of pond wa

To science, not even the bark of a tree or a drop of pond water is dull or a handful of dirt banal. They all arouse awe and wonder.

Science Wonder Wonders

Design is people.

Design is people.

But look what we have built low-income projects that become

But look what we have built low-income projects that become worse centers of delinquency, vandalism and general social hopelessness than the slums they were supposed to replace. Cultural centers that are unable to support a good bookstore. Civic centers that are avoided by everyone but bums. Promenades that go from no place to nowhere and have no promenaders. Expressways that eviscerate great cities. This is not the rebuilding of cities. This is the sacking of cities.

There is a quality even meaner than outright ugliness or dis

There is a quality even meaner than outright ugliness or disorder, and this meaner quality is the dishonest mask of pretended order, achieved by ignoring or suppressing the real order that is struggling to exist and to be served.