--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The two elements of the suburban pattern…" description: "\"The two elements of the suburban pattern that cause the greatest problems are the extreme separation of uses and the vast distances between things\" — J..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/james-howard-kunstler-2886_causes_the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern_3101870.png" --- # The two elements of the suburban pattern that cause the… ![“The two elements of the suburban pattern that cause the greatest problems are the extreme separation of uses and the vast distances between things” quote by James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/james-howard-kunstler-2886_causes_the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern_3101870.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/james-howard-kunstler-2886_causes_the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern_3101870.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/james-howard-kunstler-2886_causes_the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern_3101870.png) > “The two elements of the suburban pattern that cause the greatest problems are the extreme separation of uses and the vast distances between things” [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. Urban sprawl creates isolated zones and long trips, harming community and environment. **In simple terms:** Separate uses and long distances damage cities. Key Takeaway Design mixed‑use, compact neighborhoods. Themes urban planning environment community Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - city development - transport planning - neighborhood design Key Concepts sprawl zoning sustainability Questions to Reflect On - What policies can reduce separation of uses? - How to encourage walkable design? A Different Perspective Changing existing layouts is costly and politically difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) ## Related quotes > [Texas has arguably the most extreme separation between the well off and everyday people in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-baylor/texas-has-arguably-the-most-extreme-separation-between-the-well-off/) [Don Baylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-baylor/) > [“Jobs and commerce have moved to edge nodes, but few people want to live in them. The presence of housing in edge nodes is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-hayden/jobs-and-commerce-have-moved-to-edge-nodes-but-few-people-want-to/) [Dolores Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-hayden/) > [The countries with the greatest problems have the kindest people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/the-countries-with-the-greatest-problems-have-the-kindest-people/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [Our greatest problems in life come not so much from the situations we confront as from our doubts about our ability to handle them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-l-taylor/our-greatest-problems-in-life-come-not-so-much-from-the-situations-we/) [Susan L. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-l-taylor/) > [I think isolation is one of the greatest problems, an ever-growing obstacle to political solidarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/i-think-isolation-is-one-of-the-greatest-problems-an-ever-growing/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [One of the greatest problems of our time is that many are schooled but few are educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/one-of-the-greatest-problems-of-our-time-is-that-many-are-schooled/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [“sometimes the greatest of problems can be solved by a sweet smile”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridhima-shrma/sometimes-the-greatest-of-problems-can-be-solved-by-a-sweet-smile/) Ridhima Shrma > [The faltering of our suburban living arrangement is probably certain. The response of suburbanites is not. Will they elect maniacs who promise to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-faltering-of-our-suburban-living-arrangement-is-probably-certain/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [My own opinion is that the suburban project is over. We are done. We don't know it yet. For about five years or so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/my-own-opinion-is-that-the-suburban-project-is-over-we-are-done-we/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [The suburban cycle which began a hundred years ago is nearly over. We are in for a period of contraction and economic hardship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-suburban-cycle-which-began-a-hundred-years-ago-is-nearly-over-we/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [There is not going to be a "hydrogen economy," and no combination of alternative energy systems or fuels will allow us to continue the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/there-is-not-going-to-be-a-hydrogen-economy-and-no-combination-of/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [We're not going to reform our moronic land-use laws, which mandate suburban sprawl one way or another. They're simply going to be ignored when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/we-re-not-going-to-reform-our-moronic-land-use-laws-which-mandate/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [I come from a very straight and adjusted suburban background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-come-from-a-very-straight-and-adjusted-suburban-background/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [The separation of church and state is a suburban, not an urban, issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/the-separation-of-church-and-state-is-a-suburban-not-an-urban-issue/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [I'm originally a suburban girl from New Jersey, but I've lived in many places on both sides of the country, which has informed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisyn-camerota/i-m-originally-a-suburban-girl-from-new-jersey-but-i-ve-lived-in-many/) [Alisyn Camerota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisyn-camerota/) ## 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 Causes quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/) [Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [I don't wear rubbers cause you can't catch it twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-don-t-wear-rubbers-cause-you-can-t-catch-it-twice/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things / Like / My cousin comes to visit and you know he's from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloise-greenfield/i-love-a-lot-of-things-a-whole-lot-of-things-like-my-cousin-comes-to/) Eloise Greenfield > [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/) [Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/) Browse all 9,070 Causes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The two elements of the suburban pattern that cause the greatest problems are the extreme separation of uses and the vast distances between things", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Howard Kunstler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern-that-cause-the-greatest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Causes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern-that-cause-the-greatest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/james-howard-kunstler-2886_causes_the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern_3101870.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/james-howard-kunstler-2886_causes_the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern_3101870.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/james-howard-kunstler-2886_causes_the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern_3101870.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The two elements of the suburban pattern that cause the greatest problems are the extreme separation of uses…” — James Howard Kunstler", "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": "James Howard Kunstler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The two elements of the suburban...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern-that-cause-the-greatest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-two-elements-of-the-suburban-pattern-that-cause-the-greatest/#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 } } ] } ```