--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In vain we build the city if we do not…" description: "\"In vain we build the city if we do not first build the man.\" — Edwin Markham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/edwin-markham-11431_build_in-vain-we-build-the-city-if-we-do-not-f_2784026.png" --- # In vain we build the city if we do not first build the man. ![“In vain we build the city if we do not first build the man.” quote by Edwin Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/edwin-markham-11431_build_in-vain-we-build-the-city-if-we-do-not-f_2784026.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/edwin-markham-11431_build_in-vain-we-build-the-city-if-we-do-not-f_2784026.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/edwin-markham-11431_build_in-vain-we-build-the-city-if-we-do-not-f_2784026.png) > “In vain we build the city if we do not first build the man.” [Edwin Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-markham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Building a society without developing its people is futile; personal growth precedes civic progress. **In simple terms:** Develop people before building cities. Key Takeaway Invest in human development first. Themes society development urban planning Mood reflective serious Type philosophical social When to use this quote - urban planning - social reform - education initiatives Key Concepts human capital education policy Questions to Reflect On - How to balance physical and human development? A Different Perspective Is infrastructure ever justified without education? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build/) [Build City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-city-1498951/) [Build Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-man-1136585/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [City Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-build-3330802/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) [Vain Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain-build-2434101/) ## Related quotes > [“Psalm 127. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-stimpson/psalm-127-except-the-lord-build-the-house-they-labour-in-vain-that/) [Michelle Stimpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-stimpson/) > [When you spin a globe and point to a city and actually go to that city, you build an allowance of missed opportunities on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/when-you-spin-a-globe-and-point-to-a-city-and-actually-go-to-that/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [The architect aspires to build in a city as the artist aspires to exhibit his works in a museum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/the-architect-aspires-to-build-in-a-city-as-the-artist-aspires-to/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [Build a man a fire and he is warm for a day. 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Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-s-miller/) > [I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/i-oppose-any-proposal-for-the-federal-government-to-build-and-operate/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [“Create with the heart; build with the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/create-with-the-heart-build-with-the-mind/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Since, however, it is immaterial whether the work is done by assistants or a machine, I decided to build a machine equivalent to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-however-it-is-immaterial-whether-the-work-is-done-by-assistants/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For 'Inhuman,' it's a 'chess game' series. 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