Committed Quote by Gordon Hempton
“The normal way of gathering information is through sound: when you hear information that you want to gather, you look in its direction, you see what it is, if you choose you can get closer, you can see it, you can touch, and then, finally, the most committed form of data gathering is to taste it and eat it. But for the urbanite, we're cut off from our primary sense, and I want to stress that - our primary sense of gathering information about the place that we're living in - and instead, we're in a war zone.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast on Urban Sensory Deprivation, 2020
Urban dwellers rely on sight and touch for information, but modern city life limits these senses, making understanding the environment feel hostile.
In simple terms: City life blocks natural senses, making knowledge feel like a war.
Key Takeaway
Seek alternative ways to sense your surroundings.
Themes
urbanization
sensory loss
environmental awareness
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- city planning
- architecture
- personal navigation
- education
- technology
Key Concepts
perception
cognitive mapping
adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you reclaim sensory connection in a city?
- What tools can augment your perception?
A Different Perspective
Physical senses are still vital; digital tools can't fully replace them.
![“It's a fascinating time, I think. I do believe that with all the qualifications I've said - [such as] the uncertain accuracy of the web - nonetheless the access to speeches, documents is unparalleled with the ease of gathering information. If I had had that access when I was an editor or coming…” quote by Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe6/harold-evans-15687_access_it-s-a-fascinating-time-i-think-i-do-bel_1679368.jpg)
