--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I won't deny the polemical elements in my…" description: "\"I won't deny the polemical elements in my work, but they are less in the service of attempting to reform human behavior than the delighted exercise of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/james-howard-kunstler-2886_attempting_i-won-t-deny-the-polemical-elements-in-m_971112.png" --- # I won't deny the polemical elements in my work, but they… ![“I won't deny the polemical elements in my work, but they are less in the service of attempting to reform human behavior than the delighted exercise of my rather malicious sense of humor - especially vis-a-vis the horrifying everyday environment we have produced for ourselves. These mall-scapes…” quote by James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/james-howard-kunstler-2886_attempting_i-won-t-deny-the-polemical-elements-in-m_971112.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/james-howard-kunstler-2886_attempting_i-won-t-deny-the-polemical-elements-in-m_971112.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b54/james-howard-kunstler-2886_attempting_i-won-t-deny-the-polemical-elements-in-m_971112.png) > “I won't deny the polemical elements in my work, but they are less in the service of attempting to reform human behavior than the delighted exercise of my rather malicious sense of humor - especially vis-a-vis the horrifying everyday environment we have produced for ourselves. These mall-scapes, burb-scapes, urban wildernesses, starchitect stunts, and other toxic contexts for our daily lives express about every human vice, stupidity, and blunder that it is possible for a society to make. It all leads, really, to a psychological place where only comedy or despair make sense.” [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author critiques modern urban design as a harmful, humor‑laden commentary on how built environments reflect human folly and foster despair or comedy. **In simple terms:** Modern cities are often absurd and harmful. Key Takeaway Reevaluate urban planning for humanity. Themes urban criticism humor environmental critique social commentary psychology Mood critical reflective skeptical Type analysis satire philosophical When to use this quote - city planning - public policy - community activism - design education Key Concepts malicious humor urban decay cultural decay human behavior Questions to Reflect On - What design changes could improve daily life? - How does humor affect public perception? A Different Perspective Humor may obscure serious solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Blunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunders/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-despair-1864161/) [Daily life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-life/) [Delighted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delighted/) [Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deny/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Human behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-behavior/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humor Especially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor-especially-1558863/) [Make sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-sense/) [Malicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malicious/) [Malicious Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malicious-sense-1864162/) [Malls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malls/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Scapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scapes/) [Sense Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-humor/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Toxic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toxic/) [Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urban/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Wilderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilderness/) ## Related quotes > [I can't imagine a life without humor. Especially if you have an existential understanding of life, you must acknowledge the absurdity of it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/i-can-t-imagine-a-life-without-humor-especially-if-you-have-an/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) > [I think there's always room for humor, especially when you're talking about really serious issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/i-think-there-s-always-room-for-humor-especially-when-you-re-talking/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [Cosmic humor, especially about your own predicament, is an important part of your journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/cosmic-humor-especially-about-your-own-predicament-is-an-important/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [As an actor I'm always interested in dialogue, the way the characters speak to each other. I also enjoy a bit of humor, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-boatman/as-an-actor-i-m-always-interested-in-dialogue-the-way-the-characters/) [Michael Boatman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-boatman/) > [I really believe if you give people a product that couples entertainment with a little bit of education, a soft glove and sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-really-believe-if-you-give-people-a-product-that-couples/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [You pick up a camera because something has been revealed to you in the landscape or in the human-scape. And you have no choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-henson/you-pick-up-a-camera-because-something-has-been-revealed-to-you-in/) [Bill Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-henson/) > [Reading keeps me sane. Growing up, it was my scape, my alternative; it provided both rebellion and peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/reading-keeps-me-sane-growing-up-it-was-my-scape-my-alternative-it/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [O Time the fatal wrack of mortal things, That draws oblivion's curtains over kings; Their sumptuous monuments, men know them not, Their names without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bradstreet/o-time-the-fatal-wrack-of-mortal-things-that-draws-oblivion-s/) [Anne Bradstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bradstreet/) > [No might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape; back- wounding calumny The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong Can tie the gall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/no-might-nor-greatness-in-mortality-can-censure-scape-back-wounding/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [And to 'scape stormy days, I choose an everlasting night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/and-to-scape-stormy-days-i-choose-an-everlasting-night/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-this-and-all-is-mended-that-you/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Great sermon helped me to reflect on scape goats, forgiveness, revenge and the messiness of community. .. where I referenced this sermon. Thanks! Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-peterson/great-sermon-helped-me-to-reflect-on-scape-goats-forgiveness-revenge/) [Bill Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-peterson/) > [Manly natural religion - it is not joining the Church; it is not to believe in a creed, Hebrew, Protestant, Catholic, Trinitarian, Unitarian, Nothingarian.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/manly-natural-religion-it-is-not-joining-the-church-it-is-not-to/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by James Howard Kunstler > [ The ideas of \[ Le Corbusier \] that actually found their way into practice were deeply destructive - for instance, the tower-in-a-park, which mutated… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-ideas-of-le-corbusier-that-actually-found-their-way-into-practice/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [ “On my way out of \[Atlantic City\] at quarter after seven in the morning, a young pump jockey at the gas station \[...\] mentioned… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/on-my-way-out-of-atlantic-city-at-quarter-after-seven-in-the-morning/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [Ahead now, I think you'll see the big nations shrink back into their own corners of the world. I'm not saying we'll see no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/ahead-now-i-think-you-ll-see-the-big-nations-shrink-back-into-their/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [The task we face is reorganizing the systems we depend on for daily life in a way that is consistent with the realities coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-task-we-face-is-reorganizing-the-systems-we-depend-on-for-daily/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [White America is tortured by black America's failure to thrive, and all that guilt and anxiety has only gotten worse as a substantial quota…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/white-america-is-tortured-by-black-america-s-failure-to-thrive-and/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [What we face is a comprehensive contraction of our activities, due to declining fossil fuel resources and other growing scarcities. Our failure is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/what-we-face-is-a-comprehensive-contraction-of-our-activities-due-to/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [We're living in a culture that doesn't believe in decorating buildings, or proportioning them properly. And they don't know how to do it anymore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/we-re-living-in-a-culture-that-doesn-t-believe-in-decorating/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [Because I believe a lot of people share my feelings about the tragic landscape of highway strips, parking lots, housing tracts, mega-malls, junked cities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/because-i-believe-a-lot-of-people-share-my-feelings-about-the-tragic/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [No amount or combination of alternative fuels is going to allow us to continue running what we're running, the way we're running it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/no-amount-or-combination-of-alternative-fuels-is-going-to-allow-us-to/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [Everything we do these days - our lust for ever more comfort, pleasure, and distraction, our refusal to engage with the mandates of reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/everything-we-do-these-days-our-lust-for-ever-more-comfort-pleasure/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [There's a lot of wishful thinking that somehow we'll replace fossil fuels with alternative energy sources, but they remain far from reality. We're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/there-s-a-lot-of-wishful-thinking-that-somehow-we-ll-replace-fossil/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [Our twenty-first century economy may focus on agriculture, not information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/our-twenty-first-century-economy-may-focus-on-agriculture-not/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [I think that Obama's failure to reestablish the rule of law in money matters is the most damaging thing that he's done - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/i-think-that-obama-s-failure-to-reestablish-the-rule-of-law-in-money/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [I'm not against Kyoto. I just think it's a fantasy, especially considering China's energy predicament and their coal supplies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/i-m-not-against-kyoto-i-just-think-it-s-a-fantasy-especially/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [The American house has been TV-centered for three generations. It is the focus of family life, and the life of the house correspondingly turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-american-house-has-been-tv-centered-for-three-generations-it-is/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) [Explore all 146 James Howard Kunstler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/i-m-a-dreamer-and-continue-to-dream-of-what-can-and-will-be-expecting/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) [Browse all 513 Attempting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I won't deny the polemical elements in my work, but they are less in the service of attempting to reform human behavior than the delighted exercise of my rather malicious sense of humor - especially vis-a-vis the horrifying everyday environment we have produced for ourselves. These mall-scapes, burb-scapes, urban wildernesses, starchitect stunts, and other toxic contexts for our daily lives express about every human vice, stupidity, and blunder that it is possible for a society to make. 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