Always Quote by Jaime Lerner
“I always run into these Ph.D.s. They write and write and write about sustainable development. Then these guys ask me, 'But, how do you do it?' They are scared to death to do anything.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public Lecture, 2020
People often produce extensive research without practical application, fearing failure when asked to act.
In simple terms: Researchers may over‑talk and under‑do, avoiding real‑world impact.
Key Takeaway
Bridge theory and practice.
Themes
research
action
fear
implementation
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
advice
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic conferences
- policy making
- community projects
Key Concepts
pragmatism
knowledge transfer
Questions to Reflect On
- How can scholars be encouraged to act?
- What structures support practical application?
A Different Perspective
Ideas need testing, not just discussion.
![“I tell my graduate students [at Bard College], ‘There are two ways to change the world: through policy, or through sustainable business.’ With sustainable business, individuals build solutions within the current system… Sustainable business asks, ‘How would nature do this?’” quote by Eban Goodstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c4b/eban-goodstein-32258_asks_i-tell-my-graduate-students-at-bard-coll_1799888.jpg)
