--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know what it takes to move cities…" description: "\"I know what it takes to move cities forward. It's not about rhetoric and great speaking, but it takes relationships.\" — Aja Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/aja-brown-11570_forward_i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forw_1745601.jpg" --- # I know what it takes to move cities forward. It's not… ![“I know what it takes to move cities forward. It's not about rhetoric and great speaking, but it takes relationships.” quote by Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/aja-brown-11570_forward_i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forw_1745601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/aja-brown-11570_forward_i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forw_1745601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/aja-brown-11570_forward_i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forw_1745601.jpg) > “I know what it takes to move cities forward. It's not about rhetoric and great speaking, but it takes relationships.” [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress depends on relationships, not just speeches; building trust moves a city forward **In simple terms:** Relationships drive urban progress more than rhetoric Key Takeaway Cultivate networks, listen, collaborate Themes leadership community urban development Mood determined hopeful Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - neighborhood meetings - public‑private partnerships - infrastructure projects - community outreach Key Concepts Social capital public policy Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture trust? - What relationships are missing? A Different Perspective Rhetoric still matters for vision sharing ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities-forward-1558704/) [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [Forward Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward-rhetoric-1558706/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mayor/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhetoric/) [Takes Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-cities-1558705/) [Takes Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-relationships-482093/) ## Related quotes > [Mayors are leaders, doers. We get things done, and we are moving America's cities forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/mayors-are-leaders-doers-we-get-things-done-and-we-are-moving-america/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [It always takes two. For relationships to work, for them to break apart, for them to be fixed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/it-always-takes-two-for-relationships-to-work-for-them-to-break-apart/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“As our relationships in marriages, families, and friendship teach us, it takes relationships to provide the friction that wears down our rough edges and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-and-fiona-givens/as-our-relationships-in-marriages-families-and-friendship-teach-us-it/) [Terryl and Fiona Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-and-fiona-givens/) > [I want a formal apology from the mayor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gonzalez/i-want-a-formal-apology-from-the-mayor/) [Antonio Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gonzalez/) > [Most people have trouble pronouncing my name, so they just call me 'Mayor Pete.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-buttigieg/most-people-have-trouble-pronouncing-my-name-so-they-just-call-me/) [Pete Buttigieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-buttigieg/) > [I know I'm not going to be working with the WWE forever. That's why I'm going to be the Mayor of the city of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/i-know-i-m-not-going-to-be-working-with-the-wwe-forever-that-s-why-i/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [I Kenneth Robert Livingstone, having been elected to the office of mayor of London, declare that I take that office upon myself, and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/i-kenneth-robert-livingstone-having-been-elected-to-the-office-of/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [Mayors of New York are almost automatically national figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/mayors-of-new-york-are-almost-automatically-national-figures/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [I went out with the mayor. I'm adult, and that was my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/i-went-out-with-the-mayor-i-m-adult-and-that-was-my-decision/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [You can be anything you want to be. You can be a street sweeper, if you want. Just be the best blasted street sweeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dinkins/you-can-be-anything-you-want-to-be-you-can-be-a-street-sweeper-if-you/) [David Dinkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dinkins/) > [I could easily say that, for quite a long time before I became mayor, I had obeyed all laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/i-could-easily-say-that-for-quite-a-long-time-before-i-became-mayor-i/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) > [“A good mayor is a useful person. How can you hold back when you have the chance to do good?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/a-good-mayor-is-a-useful-person-how-can-you-hold-back-when-you-have/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Some people call me the unofficial mayor of Castro Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/some-people-call-me-the-unofficial-mayor-of-castro-street/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [“Viva my husband who was Mayor of this town”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/viva-my-husband-who-was-mayor-of-this-town/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I love being the mayor. I want to be the mayor forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-love-being-the-mayor-i-want-to-be-the-mayor-forever/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) ## More by Aja Brown > [Compton is this amazing place with a rich history. I see it as a new Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/compton-is-this-amazing-place-with-a-rich-history-i-see-it-as-a-new/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [The Compton I knew was from my mother, and it was beautiful. It was this close-knit community, and people cared about one another, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/the-compton-i-knew-was-from-my-mother-and-it-was-beautiful-it-was/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I think Compton is definitely a part of my, my family history - a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-think-compton-is-definitely-a-part-of-my-my-family-history-a-part/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I believe Kendrick Lamar is not only an artist but an influencer of an entire generation. He represents Compton with great pride, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-believe-kendrick-lamar-is-not-only-an-artist-but-an-influencer-of/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [In California, they're not making any more land. And with the high cost of land, from a business standpoint, being able to move your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/in-california-they-re-not-making-any-more-land-and-with-the-high-cost/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [Having a diverse council is necessary in order to make sure that all constituents are represented well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/having-a-diverse-council-is-necessary-in-order-to-make-sure-that-all/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I research best practices and recipes for success and failure to craft personalised policies for my city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-research-best-practices-and-recipes-for-success-and-failure-to/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I actually grew up in the City of Pasadena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-actually-grew-up-in-the-city-of-pasadena/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I knew I would work in a community that I would like to live in, but I had no idea that I would ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-knew-i-would-work-in-a-community-that-i-would-like-to-live-in-but-i/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [People who come from Compton - they're overcoming so many challenges that most people don't have to overcome, but that creates special tenacity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/people-who-come-from-compton-they-re-overcoming-so-many-challenges/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I have always believed women have so many natural leadership qualities. They just need opportunities and access.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-have-always-believed-women-have-so-many-natural-leadership/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [We all have a social responsibility and have to be mindful of what we do and say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/we-all-have-a-social-responsibility-and-have-to-be-mindful-of-what-we/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I think when people think of Compton, of course, they always think of gangster rap. But if you ever had an opportunity to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-think-when-people-think-of-compton-of-course-they-always-think-of/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [My heart is really in building coalitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/my-heart-is-really-in-building-coalitions/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [When I was a kid, I thought I would be an entrepreneur and maybe at some point go into law school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/when-i-was-a-kid-i-thought-i-would-be-an-entrepreneur-and-maybe-at/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) [Explore all 59 Aja Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) ## More Forward quotes > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The further forward we go, the further back we have to explore in order to go forward again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gardiner/the-further-forward-we-go-the-further-back-we-have-to-explore-in/) [Stephen Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gardiner/) > [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [Don't let anything holds you back, not even your loved ones. YOU must keep moving forward, NOT backwards!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia/don-t-let-anything-holds-you-back-not-even-your-loved-ones-you-must/) [Mia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia/) > [If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/if-my-wisdom-could-get-support-from-officials-i-think-society-would/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) > [When you hang the 'bipartisan' tag on something, the perception is that differences have been worked out, and there's a broad agreement that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/when-you-hang-the-bipartisan-tag-on-something-the-perception-is-that/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I'm a fan of supersymmetry, largely because it seems to be the only route by which gravity can be brought into the scheme. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-higgs/i-m-a-fan-of-supersymmetry-largely-because-it-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Peter Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-higgs/) > [I would love 'Aankhen 2' to happen. I would have Govinda and I play these two brothers and having kids who can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/i-would-love-aankhen-2-to-happen-i-would-have-govinda-and-i-play/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [I really tried to put my best foot forward all these years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/i-really-tried-to-put-my-best-foot-forward-all-these-years/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [In today's day and age, one looks forward to experimenting and it pays off at times and at times it doesn't. This does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-tiwari/in-today-s-day-and-age-one-looks-forward-to-experimenting-and-it-pays/) [Ankit Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-tiwari/) > [“I'm sure if you go forward, that something you'll find it, you'll find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaejin-insoo/i-m-sure-if-you-go-forward-that-something-you-ll-find-it-you-ll-find/) [Chaejin Insoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaejin-insoo/) > [I'm really looking forward to a time when generations after us look back and say how ridiculous it was that humans were driving cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-m-really-looking-forward-to-a-time-when-generations-after-us-look/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/) [Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/) > [You are innocent until proven guilty. And if folks have come forward, whether it is judge Roy Moore or whether it is anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/you-are-innocent-until-proven-guilty-and-if-folks-have-come-forward/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) [Browse all 3,019 Forward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know what it takes to move cities forward. It's not about rhetoric and great speaking, but it takes relationships.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aja Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forward-it-s-not-about-rhetoric/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forward" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forward-it-s-not-about-rhetoric/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/aja-brown-11570_forward_i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forw_1745601.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/aja-brown-11570_forward_i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forw_1745601.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/aja-brown-11570_forward_i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forw_1745601.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know what it takes to move cities forward. It's not about rhetoric and great speaking, but it takes…” — Aja Brown", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aja Brown", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know what it takes to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forward-it-s-not-about-rhetoric/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-know-what-it-takes-to-move-cities-forward-it-s-not-about-rhetoric/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```