--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cities are the sinks of the human race." description: "\"Cities are the sinks of the human race.\" — Henri Rousseau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/henri-rousseau-22120_cities_cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race-2_2272599.png" --- # Cities are the sinks of the human race. ![“Cities are the sinks of the human race.” quote by Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/henri-rousseau-22120_cities_cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race-2_2272599.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/henri-rousseau-22120_cities_cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race-2_2272599.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/henri-rousseau-22120_cities_cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race-2_2272599.png) > “Cities are the sinks of the human race.” [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cities concentrate human activity, shaping culture and environment while also amplifying social and ecological challenges. **In simple terms:** Cities gather people and problems together. Key Takeaway Recognize both the benefits and burdens of urban concentration. Themes urbanization environment society culture inequality Mood concerned optimistic critical Type observational analytical When to use this quote - urban planning - public policy - community development - environmental activism Key Concepts Sociology ecology human geography Questions to Reflect On - How can cities balance growth with sustainability? - What policies reduce urban inequities? A Different Perspective Urban concentration can strain resources and exacerbate inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Cities Sinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities-sinks-5272731/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Sinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinks-803917/) [Sinks Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinks-human-5272732/) ## Related quotes > [Clinton masturbates in the sinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/clinton-masturbates-in-the-sinks/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [However low a man sinks he never reaches the level of the police.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/however-low-a-man-sinks-he-never-reaches-the-level-of-the-police/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [“And the man who will be my king sinks to his knees before me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/and-the-man-who-will-be-my-king-sinks-to-his-knees-before-me/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [Friendship is a ship which never sinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tashi-aryan-brokpa/friendship-is-a-ship-which-never-sinks/) [Tashi Aryan Brokpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tashi-aryan-brokpa/) > [I sit in the sink (while applying makeup). I do. I've broken more sinks...I sit in the sink, on top of a big square…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-sit-in-the-sink-while-applying-makeup-i-do-i-ve-broken-more-sinks-i/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [There sinks the nebulous star we call the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/there-sinks-the-nebulous-star-we-call-the-sun/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Often kitchen sinks are on an exterior wall, and the plumbing and ventilation go into the insulation, whereas technically, they should be inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-baeumler/often-kitchen-sinks-are-on-an-exterior-wall-and-the-plumbing-and/) [Bryan Baeumler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-baeumler/) > [“Why is he so mad about white tiled sinks and ‘kitchen machinery’ he calls it? People have good hearts whether or not they live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/why-is-he-so-mad-about-white-tiled-sinks-and-kitchen-machinery-he/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [God sinks into dust before man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/god-sinks-into-dust-before-man/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [“So you're all alone. And, for a short while, at least until it sinks in, you can fake anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikki-wakefield/so-you-re-all-alone-and-for-a-short-while-at-least-until-it-sinks-in/) [Vikki Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikki-wakefield/) > [What once sprung from the earth sinks back into the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/what-once-sprung-from-the-earth-sinks-back-into-the-earth/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [My heart literally sinks...(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/my-heart-literally-sinks/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Henri Rousseau > [It is not I that am drawing, it is this thing at the end of my hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/it-is-not-i-that-am-drawing-it-is-this-thing-at-the-end-of-my-hand/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [If it is reason that forms man then it is the emotions that guide her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/if-it-is-reason-that-forms-man-then-it-is-the-emotions-that-guide-her/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [If a king tries to start a war, a mother should go to him and forbid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/if-a-king-tries-to-start-a-war-a-mother-should-go-to-him-and-forbid-it/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [Excuse my scribbling, it is late, and I have a poor candle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/excuse-my-scribbling-it-is-late-and-i-have-a-poor-candle/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [From the first moment of life, men ought to begin learning to deserve to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/from-the-first-moment-of-life-men-ought-to-begin-learning-to-deserve/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [“Why did you paint a couch in the middle of the jungle?" Rousseau: "Because one has a right to paint one's dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/why-did-you-paint-a-couch-in-the-middle-of-the-jungle-rousseau/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [We are the two great painters of this era; you are in the Egyptian style, I in themodern style. (to Pablo Picasso)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/we-are-the-two-great-painters-of-this-era-you-are-in-the-egyptian/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [I have always believed that good is only beauty put into practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/i-have-always-believed-that-good-is-only-beauty-put-into-practice/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [When I go out into the countryside and see the sun and the green and everything flowering, I say to myself "Yes indeed, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/when-i-go-out-into-the-countryside-and-see-the-sun-and-the-green-and/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [I felt before I thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/i-felt-before-i-thought/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [I cannot now change my style, which I acquired, as you can imagine, by dint of labour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/i-cannot-now-change-my-style-which-i-acquired-as-you-can-imagine-by/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [The universe was born restless and has never since been still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/the-universe-was-born-restless-and-has-never-since-been-still/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [Nature's instructions are always slow; those of men are generally premature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/nature-s-instructions-are-always-slow-those-of-men-are-generally/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [The principal problem I had during the five years I ran the Caisse - and I bet you that it will be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/the-principal-problem-i-had-during-the-five-years-i-ran-the-caisse/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) > [The passage from the state of nature to the civil state produces a very remarkable change in man, by substituting justice for instinct in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/the-passage-from-the-state-of-nature-to-the-civil-state-produces-a/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) [Explore all 28 Henri Rousseau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 are the sinks of the human race.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri Rousseau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/henri-rousseau-22120_cities_cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race-2_2272599.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/henri-rousseau-22120_cities_cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race-2_2272599.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/henri-rousseau-22120_cities_cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race-2_2272599.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cities are the sinks of the human race.” — Henri Rousseau", "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": "Henri Rousseau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Cities are the sinks of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/cities-are-the-sinks-of-the-human-race/#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 } } ] } ```