Life Quote by Jane Jacobs
““Adding and Dividing Work Ancient people seem to have understood perfectly well that economic life is a matter of adding new goods and services. But instead of seeing the logic and order by which this happens, they saw magic. Important activities had been given to men or taught to men in remote times by gods; they had been stolen from gods; they had been brought along, like a trousseau, by demigod progenitors of people.””
About This Quote
Source Book: "The Death and Life of Great American Cities", 1961
Early economies viewed economic activity as adding and dividing work, attributing it to divine or magical forces rather than logical processes.
In simple terms: Ancient people saw economics as mystical, not systematic.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the logical foundations of economic activity.
Themes
economics
history
mythology
Mood
inquisitive
historical
Type
analytical
educational
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- educational curricula
- policy analysis
- business strategy
Key Concepts
systems thinking
economic theory
cultural narratives
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural myths shape current economic policies?
- What can we learn from ancient perspectives on work?
A Different Perspective
Mythical explanations can still influence modern economic thinking.
