--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would want us to start our quest to…" description: "\"I would want us to start our quest to survive mass extinction by rethinking how we build cities. Cities should be commonplaces of production, rather th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/annalee-newitz-8659_adventure_i-would-want-us-to-start-our-quest-to-su_3224599.jpg" --- # I would want us to start our quest to survive mass… ![“I would want us to start our quest to survive mass extinction by rethinking how we build cities. Cities should be commonplaces of production, rather than consumption - they should be producing food, and fuel.” quote by Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/annalee-newitz-8659_adventure_i-would-want-us-to-start-our-quest-to-su_3224599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/annalee-newitz-8659_adventure_i-would-want-us-to-start-our-quest-to-su_3224599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/annalee-newitz-8659_adventure_i-would-want-us-to-start-our-quest-to-su_3224599.jpg) > “I would want us to start our quest to survive mass extinction by rethinking how we build cities. Cities should be commonplaces of production, rather than consumption - they should be producing food, and fuel.” [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must redesign cities to be productive ecosystems that generate food and energy, not just consume resources. **In simple terms:** Cities should produce food and fuel. Key Takeaway Redesign cities to produce, not just consume. Themes sustainability urban planning food security Mood optimistic determined Type visionary policy When to use this quote - urban development - community gardens - renewable energy projects - policy making Key Concepts circular economy resilience local production Questions to Reflect On - How can we incentivize city-level production? - What barriers exist to shifting from consumption to production? A Different Perspective Implementation requires massive infrastructure change and political will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Build Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-cities-2791992/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Commonplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonplace/) [Consumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumption/) [Consumption Producing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumption-producing-6075083/) [Extinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extinction/) [Extinction Rethinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extinction-rethinking-6075082/) [Fuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fuel/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Mass extinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass-extinction/) [Productions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productions/) [Quests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quests/) [Rethinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rethinking/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-u/) ## Related quotes > [ So science alone cannot solve this problem \[mass extinction of humans\]. It's something that we can only tackle by bringing science together with culture,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/so-science-alone-cannot-solve-this-problem-mass-extinction-of-humans/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [Part of what I wanted to do in my book was point out that we have almost reached the point where we can prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/part-of-what-i-wanted-to-do-in-my-book-was-point-out-that-we-have/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [If we return abruptly to a Miocene-like climate, it's reasonable to think that we would experience a lot of extinctions, and maybe even a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/if-we-return-abruptly-to-a-miocene-like-climate-it-s-reasonable-to/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [To be fair, if we are having a mass extinction, we're in the early stages of it. I think it's knowing facts like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/to-be-fair-if-we-are-having-a-mass-extinction-we-re-in-the-early/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [The early Triassic was a period when the planet was recovering from the worst mass extinction it had ever known - that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/the-early-triassic-was-a-period-when-the-planet-was-recovering-from/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [We build our computer (systems) the way we build our cities: over time, without a plan, on top of ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/we-build-our-computer-systems-the-way-we-build-our-cities-over-time/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Forget the damned motor car and build the cities for lovers and friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/forget-the-damned-motor-car-and-build-the-cities-for-lovers-and/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [A single idea from the human mind can build cities. An idea can transform the world and rewrite all the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/a-single-idea-from-the-human-mind-can-build-cities-an-idea-can/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [We used to build our cities and towns around churches. Now banks are at the centers of our densely populated areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-densmore/we-used-to-build-our-cities-and-towns-around-churches-now-banks-are/) [John Densmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-densmore/) > [“We can build cities for the Romans.” “Actually, I was thinking about saving mankind.” “Forget that nonsense, Josh. Rocks, I tell you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/we-can-build-cities-for-the-romans-actually-i-was-thinking-about/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [We are all blind until we see That in the human plan Nothing is worth the making If it does not make the man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-markham/we-are-all-blind-until-we-see-that-in-the-human-plan-nothing-is-worth/) [Edwin Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-markham/) > [Cities generate most of the global economy, and most of its energy use, resource demands and climate emissions. How we build cities over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/cities-generate-most-of-the-global-economy-and-most-of-its-energy-use/) [Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/) > [ “It’s\] pretty clear that times of high carbon dioxide—and especially times when carbon dioxide levels rapidly rose—coincided with the mass extinctions,” writes University of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-brannen/it-s-pretty-clear-that-times-of-high-carbon-dioxide-and-especially/) [Peter Brannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-brannen/) > [The extinctions ongoing worldwide promise to be at least as great as the mass extinction that occurred at the end of the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-extinctions-ongoing-worldwide-promise-to-be-at-least-as-great-as/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [We find ourselves heading fully into an era of mass extinction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severn-cullis-suzuki/we-find-ourselves-heading-fully-into-an-era-of-mass-extinction/) [Severn Cullis-Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severn-cullis-suzuki/) ## More by Annalee Newitz > [“She wasn’t sure which motivation made better fuel for innovation: naïve but ethical beliefs, or the need to survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/she-wasn-t-sure-which-motivation-made-better-fuel-for-innovation-na/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [Humans are a great survivor species but our survival will be pretty grim if all of the plants and animals we depend on die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/humans-are-a-great-survivor-species-but-our-survival-will-be-pretty/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [Amphibians are dying out like crazy, and frogs and salamanders may be largely extinct by the end of the twenty-first century. Imagine an animal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/amphibians-are-dying-out-like-crazy-and-frogs-and-salamanders-may-be/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [“It didn’t just boost your concentration. It made you enjoy work. You couldn’t wait to get back to the keyboard, the breadboard, the gesture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/it-didn-t-just-boost-your-concentration-it-made-you-enjoy-work-you/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [Survivor species tend to have huge populations, so they can afford to lose many individuals and still survive as a species. They also tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/survivor-species-tend-to-have-huge-populations-so-they-can-afford-to/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [In fact, the early demographer Thomas Malthus believes that the only way the human population would ever check itself was by running headlong into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/in-fact-the-early-demographer-thomas-malthus-believes-that-the-only/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [“ For all the robots who question their programming. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/for-all-the-robots-who-question-their-programming/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [Obviously it depends on how you define a word like "evolution," because of course we have been evolving - both biologically and culturally -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/obviously-it-depends-on-how-you-define-a-word-like-evolution-because/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [I try to be realistic and pragmatic. I have a lot of hope for humanity as a species, but obviously as individuals we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/i-try-to-be-realistic-and-pragmatic-i-have-a-lot-of-hope-for-humanity/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [The fact is that humans have been shaping the genetics of what they eat for thousands of years. Genetic engineering simply speeds up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/the-fact-is-that-humans-have-been-shaping-the-genetics-of-what-they/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [In terms of fiction, there are a number of writers who are thinking about the future of the environment whose work complements mine. Kim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/in-terms-of-fiction-there-are-a-number-of-writers-who-are-thinking/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [“As UC Berkeley economics professor Brad DeLong put it to me: You get famine if the price of food spikes far beyond that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/as-uc-berkeley-economics-professor-brad-delong-put-it-to-me-you-get/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [“Plus, it was made by Zaxy, the company behind Smartifex, Brillicent, and other popular work enhancement drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/plus-it-was-made-by-zaxy-the-company-behind-smartifex-brillicent-and/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [That said, a lot of people buy products with "green" in the brand name, but make no attempt to understand what it would really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/that-said-a-lot-of-people-buy-products-with-green-in-the-brand-name/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [“Every master loves to fuck a slave. It is a law of nature, or maybe culture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/every-master-loves-to-fuck-a-slave-it-is-a-law-of-nature-or-maybe/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) [Explore all 78 Annalee Newitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) [Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) [Kevin McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mcleod/) > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. 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