Books Quote by H.G. Wells
““A large number of houses deserve to be burnt, most modern furniture, an overwhelming majority of pictures and books - one might go on for some time with the list. If our community was collectively anything more than a feeble idiot, it would burn most of London and Chicago, for example, an build sane and beautiful cities in the place of these pestilential heaps of private property.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells, 1898
The quote condemns excessive private ownership and advocates replacing it with rational, communal urban design.
In simple terms: Criticizes hoarding of property; urges better city planning.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize collective well‑being over personal excess.
Themes
urbanism
critique of consumerism
collectivism
environmentalism
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- city redevelopment
- housing policy
- community activism
- environmental advocacy
- architectural design
Key Concepts
property rights
social engineering
urban planning
Questions to Reflect On
- What balance should be struck between individual ownership and communal benefit?
- How can we redesign cities without erasing heritage?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all private property is harmful, ignoring personal autonomy and cultural value.
![“The thing [Henry James'] novel is about is always there. It is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on the high altar. And on the altar, very reverently placed, intensely there, is a dead kitten, an egg-shell, a bit of string.” quote by H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19f/h-g-wells-2-1299_books_the-thing-henry-james-novel-is-about-is_138893.jpg)
