Let us suppose we are confronted with a desperate thing –…
““Let us suppose we are confronted with a desperate thing – say Pimlico. If we think what is really best for Pimlico we shall find the thread of thought leads to the throne of the mystic and the arbitrary. It is not enough for a man to disapprove of Pimlico; in that case he will merely cut his throat or move to Chelsea. Nor, certainly, is it enough for a man to approve of Pimlico; for then it will remain Pimlico, which would be awful. The only way out of it seems to be for somebody to love Pimlico; to love it with a transcendental tie and without any earthly reason. If there arose a man who loved Pimlico, then Pimlico would rise into ivory towers and golden pinnacles… If men loved Pimlico as mothers love children, arbitrarily, because it is theirs, Pimlico in a year or two might be fairer than Florence. Some readers will say that this is mere fantasy. I answer that this is the actual history of mankind. This, as a fact, is how cities did grow great. Go back to the darkest roots of civilization and you will find them knotted round some sacred stone or encircling some sacred well. People first paid honour to a spot and afterwards gained glory for it. Men did not love Rome because she was great. She was great because they had loved her.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Argues that cities become great not because of inherent merit but because people love them, suggesting love as a catalyst for cultural elevation.
In simple terms: Love fuels a glory of places.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate love for communities.
Themes
culture
city
love
history
philosophy
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- city planning
- community building
- heritage preservation
- political rhetoric
Key Concepts
collective identity
mythmaking
urban development
Questions to Reflect On
- What does love for a place inspire?
- Can affection replace practical improvement?
A Different Perspective
Love alone may not address structural problems.