--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the small town each citizen had done…" description: "\"In the small town each citizen had done something in his own way to build the community. The town booster had a vision of the future which he tried to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/daniel-j-boorstin-3089_citizens_in-the-small-town-each-citizen-had-done_321522.png" --- # In the small town each citizen had done something in his… ![“In the small town each citizen had done something in his own way to build the community. The town booster had a vision of the future which he tried to fulfill. The suburb dweller by contrast started with the future” quote by Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/daniel-j-boorstin-3089_citizens_in-the-small-town-each-citizen-had-done_321522.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/daniel-j-boorstin-3089_citizens_in-the-small-town-each-citizen-had-done_321522.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/daniel-j-boorstin-3089_citizens_in-the-small-town-each-citizen-had-done_321522.png) > “In the small town each citizen had done something in his own way to build the community. The town booster had a vision of the future which he tried to fulfill. The suburb dweller by contrast started with the future” [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual contributions shape community, while visionary leadership attempts to steer future growth. **In simple terms:** People build towns together. Key Takeaway Balance personal effort with shared vision. Themes community vision collaboration Mood hopeful thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - neighborhood projects - city planning - civic engagement Key Concepts social capital urban development leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you align personal actions with community goals? - What role should leaders play in fostering inclusive futures? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on a single vision can ignore diverse needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Small town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-town/) [Suburbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suburbs/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Visions of the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visions-of-the-future/) ## Related quotes > [Tell me what your vision of the future and I will tell you what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-polak/tell-me-what-your-vision-of-the-future-and-i-will-tell-you-what-you/) Fred Polak > [I had this crazy, a bit of a near-death experience in Estonia. I had these visions of the future but I was in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taraka-larson/i-had-this-crazy-a-bit-of-a-near-death-experience-in-estonia-i-had/) [Taraka Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taraka-larson/) > [Because the utopian's worldview was framed around moving toward this perfected future, it helped stimulate the private exertions that add up to social progress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-jennings/because-the-utopian-s-worldview-was-framed-around-moving-toward-this/) [Christine Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-jennings/) > [I have a Vision of the Future, chum. The workers flats in fields of soya beans tower up like silver pencils, score on score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-betjeman/i-have-a-vision-of-the-future-chum-the-workers-flats-in-fields-of/) [John Betjeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-betjeman/) > [In the past our glorious visions of the future - heaven, paradise, nirvana - were thought to happen after death. The newer thought is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-marx-hubbard/in-the-past-our-glorious-visions-of-the-future-heaven-paradise/) [Barbara Marx Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-marx-hubbard/) > [We are working towards a shared vision of the future for health among all the world's people. A vision future in which we develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gro-harlem-brundtland/we-are-working-towards-a-shared-vision-of-the-future-for-health-among/) [Gro Harlem Brundtland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gro-harlem-brundtland/) > [As in creating some significant work the artist first experiences something akin to dream awareness that becomes clarified in the creative process itself, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/as-in-creating-some-significant-work-the-artist-first-experiences/) [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) > [There are the holding actions, the changing actions, and the vision of the future - what we want to see happen for the Earth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/there-are-the-holding-actions-the-changing-actions-and-the-vision-of/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [My visions of the future are always pretty much standard issue. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer and there are flying cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/my-visions-of-the-future-are-always-pretty-much-standard-issue-the/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [When a man loses his vision of the future he dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/when-a-man-loses-his-vision-of-the-future-he-dies/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Trust God's love. His perfect love. Don't fear He will discover your past. He already has. Don't fear disappointing Him in the future. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/trust-god-s-love-his-perfect-love-don-t-fear-he-will-discover-your/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The more attached we are to a vision of the future, the less present we are to what is actually trying to emerge here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-merry/the-more-attached-we-are-to-a-vision-of-the-future-the-less-present/) Peter Merry > [Vision with action can change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-baker-2/vision-with-action-can-change-the-world/) [J. A. Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-baker-2/) > [It is always the sign of the second-rate man when the decision merely meets the present situation. It is the left-over in a decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/it-is-always-the-sign-of-the-second-rate-man-when-the-decision-merely/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [If you want a vision of the future, imagine Washington-back ed Google Glasses strapped onto vacant human faces - forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/if-you-want-a-vision-of-the-future-imagine-washington-back-ed-google/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) ## More by Daniel J. Boorstin > [The improved American highway system isolated the American-in-transit. On his speedway he had no contact with the towns which he by-passed. If he stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-improved-american-highway-system-isolated-the-american-in-transit/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [Modern tourist guides have helped raised tourist expectations. And they have provided the natives- from Kaiser Wilhelm down to the villagers of Chichacestenango -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/modern-tourist-guides-have-helped-raised-tourist-expectations-and/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [Each living art object, taken out of its native habitat so we can conveniently gaze at it, is like an animal in a zoo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/each-living-art-object-taken-out-of-its-native-habitat-so-we-can/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [Probably no one of us has the True Religion. But all of us together - if we are allowed to be free - are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/probably-no-one-of-us-has-the-true-religion-but-all-of-us-together-if/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [An image is not simply a trademark, a design, a slogan or an easily remembered picture. It is a studiously crafted personality profile of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/an-image-is-not-simply-a-trademark-a-design-a-slogan-or-an-easily/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [ \[The Library of Congress\] is a multimedia encyclopedia. These are the tentacles of a nation. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-library-of-congress-is-a-multimedia-encyclopedia-these-are-the/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [It is only a short step from exaggerating what we can find in the world to exaggerating our power to remake the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/it-is-only-a-short-step-from-exaggerating-what-we-can-find-in-the/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [Not so many years ago there was no simpler or more intelligible notion than that of going on a journey. Travel -movement through space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/not-so-many-years-ago-there-was-no-simpler-or-more-intelligible/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [The computer can help us find what we know is there. But the book remains our symbol and our resource for the unimagined question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-computer-can-help-us-find-what-we-know-is-there-but-the-book/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [“The shadow has become the substance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-shadow-has-become-the-substance/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [In fast-moving, progress-conscious America, the consumer expects to be dizzied by progress. If he could completely understand advertising jargon he would be badly disappointed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/in-fast-moving-progress-conscious-america-the-consumer-expects-to-be/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [Being known primarily for their well-knownness, celebrities intensify their celebrity images simply by becoming widely known for relations among themselves. By a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/being-known-primarily-for-their-well-knownness-celebrities-intensify/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [While the focus in the landscape of Old World cities was commonly government structures, churches, or the residences of rulers, the landscape and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/while-the-focus-in-the-landscape-of-old-world-cities-was-commonly/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [Any government which made the welfare of men depend on the character of their governors was an illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/any-government-which-made-the-welfare-of-men-depend-on-the-character/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [The history of Western science confirms the aphorism that the great menace to progress is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-history-of-western-science-confirms-the-aphorism-that-the-great/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) [Explore all 140 Daniel J. Boorstin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) ## More Citizens quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the small town each citizen had done something in his own way to build the community. 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