--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cities simply don't have the powers they…" description: "\"Cities simply don't have the powers they need to radically innovate in cutting obesity or the number of disaffected teenagers.\" — Geoff Mulgan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/geoff-mulgan-7252_cities_cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they_941514.jpg" --- # Cities simply don't have the powers they need to radically… ![“Cities simply don't have the powers they need to radically innovate in cutting obesity or the number of disaffected teenagers.” quote by Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/geoff-mulgan-7252_cities_cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they_941514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/geoff-mulgan-7252_cities_cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they_941514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/geoff-mulgan-7252_cities_cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they_941514.jpg) > “Cities simply don't have the powers they need to radically innovate in cutting obesity or the number of disaffected teenagers.” [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cities lack the authority and resources to tackle major health and youth disengagement issues. **In simple terms:** Cities cannot solve big problems alone. Key Takeaway Empower local agencies with resources. Themes policy urban development health Mood critical optimistic Type policy strategic When to use this quote - city planning - public health campaigns - youth programs Key Concepts governance resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - What policies could give cities more power? - How can communities fill gaps left by city limitations? A Different Perspective Political constraints can limit city autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Obesity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obesity/) [Teenager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenager/) ## Related quotes > [When the masses become better informed about science, they will feel less need for help form supernatural Higher Powers. The need for religion will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesc-ferrer-i-guardia/when-the-masses-become-better-informed-about-science-they-will-feel/) [Francesc Ferrer i Guardia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesc-ferrer-i-guardia/) > [It is not the Soviet Union or indeed any other big Powers who need the United Nations for their protection. It is all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/it-is-not-the-soviet-union-or-indeed-any-other-big-powers-who-need/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Even many of the teenagers who feel confident on navigating the web simply don't have the skills needed to 'write and create' digital tools,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/even-many-of-the-teenagers-who-feel-confident-on-navigating-the-web/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Teenagers learn best by doing things, they learn best in teams and they learn best by doing things for real - all the opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-they-learn-best-in-teams-and/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [It has always been the role of government to help solve problems, including and especially health crises. Obesity is a health epidemic across our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-has-always-been-the-role-of-government-to-help-solve-problems/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm very proud of my breasts, as every woman should be. It's not cellular obesity. It's womanliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-ekberg/i-m-very-proud-of-my-breasts-as-every-woman-should-be-it-s-not/) [Anita Ekberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-ekberg/) > [In the 10 cities with the nation's highest obesity rates, the direct costs connected with obesity and obesity-related diseases are roughly $50 million per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/in-the-10-cities-with-the-nation-s-highest-obesity-rates-the-direct/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [Blaming guns for murder is like blaming forks for obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/blaming-guns-for-murder-is-like-blaming-forks-for-obesity/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The infant mortality rates are insanely high. The obesity epidemic is on the rise. It is all related.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-williams-paisley/the-infant-mortality-rates-are-insanely-high-the-obesity-epidemic-is/) [Kimberly Williams-Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-williams-paisley/) > [“May we all work together towards that day when, walking down the street, we find that obesity is once again rare and no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-s-volek/may-we-all-work-together-towards-that-day-when-walking-down-the/) [Jeff S. Volek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-s-volek/) > [We can all agree that government cant solve the obesity crisis alone. Its an ongoing issue that will require a collaborative effort across private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/we-can-all-agree-that-government-cant-solve-the-obesity-crisis-alone/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [“Obesity is not about a lack of willpower or an individual who has no self respect.  Obesity is about science and malfunctions in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-hale/obesity-is-not-about-a-lack-of-willpower-or-an-individual-who-has-no/) [T.C. Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-hale/) > [“These findings—the contents of Part II of this book—show that heart disease, diabetes and obesity can be reversed by a healthy diet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/these-findings-the-contents-of-part-ii-of-this-book-show-that-heart/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [The people in power have created an obesity epidemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-atkins/the-people-in-power-have-created-an-obesity-epidemic/) [Robert Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-atkins/) > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/) ## More by Geoff Mulgan > [For most of human history, the main goal of states has been to conquer land and to achieve glory for their rulers, usually at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/for-most-of-human-history-the-main-goal-of-states-has-been-to-conquer/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Over 5,000 years, states have made surprisingly consistent claims about their duties. They have promised to protect people from threats; promote their welfare; deliver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/over-5-000-years-states-have-made-surprisingly-consistent-claims/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [The wrongful arrest of tens of thousands of British Muslims after the September 11 attacks can be explained by the very poor intelligence the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-wrongful-arrest-of-tens-of-thousands-of-british-muslims-after-the/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Understanding capitalism is in some ways simple. At its best, capitalism rewards creators, makers and providers: the people and firms that create valuable things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/understanding-capitalism-is-in-some-ways-simple-at-its-best/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [By international standards, many of the U.K.'s policies for civil society are exemplary. However, there are concerns about constraints on civil liberties - particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/by-international-standards-many-of-the-u-k-s-policies-for-civil/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Bangalore has become a centre for healthcare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/bangalore-has-become-a-centre-for-healthcare/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [The idea of entrepreneurship applies as much in politics, religion, society and the arts as it does in business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-idea-of-entrepreneurship-applies-as-much-in-politics-religion/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Deeper fulfilment is rather different from the happiness of seeing a good film or watching your team win at football, and it doesn't come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/deeper-fulfilment-is-rather-different-from-the-happiness-of-seeing-a/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [With a fractured sense of self, we come to depend on what people feed back to us - often mediated through social networks -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/with-a-fractured-sense-of-self-we-come-to-depend-on-what-people-feed/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Predation is part of the everyday life of capitalism, in sectors as mainstream as pharmaceuticals, software and oil - where people's money, their data,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/predation-is-part-of-the-everyday-life-of-capitalism-in-sectors-as/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [As a civil servant in charge of the government's Strategy Unit, I brought in many people from outside government, including academia and science, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/as-a-civil-servant-in-charge-of-the-government-s-strategy-unit-i/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Systems governed by only one set of rules are more vulnerable than those with variety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/systems-governed-by-only-one-set-of-rules-are-more-vulnerable-than/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [States which used to communicate directly to their citizens now do so through the media, where their messages are reshaped by the logics of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/states-which-used-to-communicate-directly-to-their-citizens-now-do-so/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Teenagers learn best by doing things, they learn best in teams and they learn best by doing things for real - all the opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-they-learn-best-in-teams-and/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Even many of the teenagers who feel confident on navigating the web simply don't have the skills needed to 'write and create' digital tools,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/even-many-of-the-teenagers-who-feel-confident-on-navigating-the-web/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) [Explore all 93 Geoff Mulgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) ## More Cities quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) James Cross Giblin > [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [Outside of Paris, there is no hope for the cultured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/outside-of-paris-there-is-no-hope-for-the-cultured/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,153 Cities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cities simply don't have the powers they need to radically innovate in cutting obesity or the number of disaffected teenagers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geoff Mulgan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they-need-to-radically-innovate/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they-need-to-radically-innovate/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/geoff-mulgan-7252_cities_cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they_941514.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/geoff-mulgan-7252_cities_cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they_941514.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/geoff-mulgan-7252_cities_cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they_941514.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cities simply don't have the powers they need to radically innovate in cutting obesity or the number of…” — Geoff Mulgan", "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": "Geoff Mulgan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Cities simply don't have the powers...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they-need-to-radically-innovate/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/cities-simply-don-t-have-the-powers-they-need-to-radically-innovate/#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 } } ] } ```