--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After working in cities for nearly 40…" description: "\"After working in cities for nearly 40 years, I am telling you that every city can improve its quality of life in less than three years, no matter the s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/jaime-lerner-19046_cities_after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-ye_1819846.png" --- # After working in cities for nearly 40 years, I am telling… ![“After working in cities for nearly 40 years, I am telling you that every city can improve its quality of life in less than three years, no matter the scale or the financial conditions.” quote by Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/jaime-lerner-19046_cities_after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-ye_1819846.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/jaime-lerner-19046_cities_after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-ye_1819846.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/jaime-lerner-19046_cities_after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-ye_1819846.png) > “After working in cities for nearly 40 years, I am telling you that every city can improve its quality of life in less than three years, no matter the scale or the financial conditions.” [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cities can rapidly enhance livability through targeted, scalable interventions regardless of size or budget. **In simple terms:** Cities can improve life quickly with focused actions. Key Takeaway Implement high‑impact, low‑cost urban projects. Themes urbanism livability policy efficiency innovation Mood optimistic pragmatic Type policy inspirational When to use this quote - neighborhood upgrades - public transport - green spaces - community programs Key Concepts systems thinking public participation sustainable design Questions to Reflect On - Which interventions yield the fastest benefits? - How to ensure equity in rapid upgrades? A Different Perspective Political will and funding can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Quality Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality-life/) [Quality of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [There are two main strategies we can try to improve the quality of life. 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Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-h-cooper/) > [...quality of life lies in knowledge, in culture. Values are what constitute true quality of life, the supreme quality of life, even above food,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/quality-of-life-lies-in-knowledge-in-culture-values-are-what/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Bike-friendly cities provide some of the best quality of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/bike-friendly-cities-provide-some-of-the-best-quality-of-life/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [The path to solid, supportive, healthy relationships, self-respect, and a quality life starts with the usually painful decision to do the Right Thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/the-path-to-solid-supportive-healthy-relationships-self-respect-and-a/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [When I was growing up, we used to play basketball in a park that was never shoveled when it snowed. The basketball rims were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deforest-soaries/when-i-was-growing-up-we-used-to-play-basketball-in-a-park-that-was/) [DeForest Soaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deforest-soaries/) > [“Fitness training not only strengthens you, but also promotes a wholesome quality of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/fitness-training-not-only-strengthens-you-but-also-promotes-a/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [The quality of life depends on the quality of your judgment about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fennis/the-quality-of-life-depends-on-the-quality-of-your-judgment-about-it/) [Alexander Fennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fennis/) > [There's a side to reality TV that is part education, as well. I've seen that since doing "MasterChef Junior," in terms of the effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-ramsay/there-s-a-side-to-reality-tv-that-is-part-education-as-well-i-ve-seen/) [Gordon Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-ramsay/) > [I don't have to have the biggest house or the biggest car or the longest mink, but quality of life is really glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-don-t-have-to-have-the-biggest-house-or-the-biggest-car-or-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) ## More by Jaime Lerner > [A car is like a mother-in-law - if you let it, it will rule your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/a-car-is-like-a-mother-in-law-if-you-let-it-it-will-rule-your-life/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [A city is like a family portrait - you don't tear it up if you don't like your uncle's nose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/a-city-is-like-a-family-portrait-you-don-t-tear-it-up-if-you-don-t/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [The city is not the problem; the city is the solution,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/the-city-is-not-the-problem-the-city-is-the-solution/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [Brazil will change when its cities change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/brazil-will-change-when-its-cities-change/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [There is no place in a city that can't be better. There is no toad that can't be a princess, no frog that can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/there-is-no-place-in-a-city-that-can-t-be-better-there-is-no-toad/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [Cities are not problems. They are solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/cities-are-not-problems-they-are-solutions/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [If you want creativity, take a zero off your budget. If you want sustainability, take off two zeros.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/if-you-want-creativity-take-a-zero-off-your-budget-if-you-want/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [We can't have landfills forever, and we can't ask others to accept our trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/we-can-t-have-landfills-forever-and-we-can-t-ask-others-to-accept-our/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [If you provide good alternatives for public transport, you won't have traffic problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/if-you-provide-good-alternatives-for-public-transport-you-won-t-have/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [The lack of resources is no longer an excuse not to act. The idea that action should only be taken after all the answers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/the-lack-of-resources-is-no-longer-an-excuse-not-to-act-the-idea-that/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/i-always-run-into-these-ph-d-s-they-write-and-write-and-write-about/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [Many cities end up putting off things because they want to understand everything. They don't understand that innovating is about starting. Taking care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/many-cities-end-up-putting-off-things-because-they-want-to-understand/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [I always try to say, 'If you want to help the environment, try to do just two things. One, use less of your car.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/i-always-try-to-say-if-you-want-to-help-the-environment-try-to-do/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [Every city in the world can be improved in less than three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/every-city-in-the-world-can-be-improved-in-less-than-three-years/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) > [The secret to the city is integration. Every area of the city should combine work, leisure and culture. Separate these functions and parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/the-secret-to-the-city-is-integration-every-area-of-the-city-should/) [Jaime Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) [Explore all 33 Jaime Lerner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/) ## 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": "After working in cities for nearly 40 years, I am telling you that every city can improve its quality of life in less than three years, no matter the scale or the financial conditions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jaime Lerner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-years-i-am-telling-you-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-years-i-am-telling-you-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/jaime-lerner-19046_cities_after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-ye_1819846.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/jaime-lerner-19046_cities_after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-ye_1819846.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/jaime-lerner-19046_cities_after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-ye_1819846.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After working in cities for nearly 40 years, I am telling you that every city can improve its quality of…” — Jaime Lerner", "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": "Jaime Lerner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-lerner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "After working in cities for nearly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-years-i-am-telling-you-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lerner/after-working-in-cities-for-nearly-40-years-i-am-telling-you-that/#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 } } ] } ```