--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are growing from a cheerful small town…" description: "\"We are growing from a cheerful small town where everyone waves off their front porch to the subway of New York City where everyone rushes by. How do yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/jimmy-wales-4935_cheerful_we-are-growing-from-a-cheerful-small-tow_1655058.png" --- # We are growing from a cheerful small town where everyone… ![“We are growing from a cheerful small town where everyone waves off their front porch to the subway of New York City where everyone rushes by. How do you preserve the culture that has worked so well?” quote by Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/jimmy-wales-4935_cheerful_we-are-growing-from-a-cheerful-small-tow_1655058.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/jimmy-wales-4935_cheerful_we-are-growing-from-a-cheerful-small-tow_1655058.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/jimmy-wales-4935_cheerful_we-are-growing-from-a-cheerful-small-tow_1655058.png) > “We are growing from a cheerful small town where everyone waves off their front porch to the subway of New York City where everyone rushes by. How do you preserve the culture that has worked so well?” [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Urban migration challenges cultural preservation; rapid city life threatens small‑town values. **In simple terms:** Big cities can erode local traditions. Key Takeaway Balance growth with heritage. Themes urbanization culture identity change Mood reflective optimistic Type cultural social When to use this quote - city planning - local festivals - digital archives - community workshops Key Concepts sociology community resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can traditions adapt to modern life? - What policies protect cultural identity? A Different Perspective Preserving culture may limit economic integration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerful/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Culture Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture-worked-697229/) [Front Porch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front-porch/) [Front porches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front-porches/) [Fronts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fronts/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [New york city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york-city/) [Porch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/porch/) [Porch Subway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/porch-subway-697230/) [Preserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserve/) [Preserve Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserve-culture-697228/) [Preserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserves/) [Small town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-town/) [Subway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subway/) [Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towns/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york/) [York City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-city/) ## Related quotes > [Everywhere, women gathered in knots, huddled in groups on front porches, on sidewalks, even in the middle of the streets, telling each other that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/everywhere-women-gathered-in-knots-huddled-in-groups-on-front-porches/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [Iowa's the worst. Iowa's just nothing, just flat as far as you can see. It's the only state in the country where you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-fitzsimmons/iowa-s-the-worst-iowa-s-just-nothing-just-flat-as-far-as-you-can-see/) [Greg Fitzsimmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-fitzsimmons/) > [Little brats yellin 'Trick or Treat' all through my screen door, When y'all should be at home sleep, Instead of at my front porch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kam/little-brats-yellin-trick-or-treat-all-through-my-screen-door-when-y/) [Kam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kam/) > [My wife Ann and I had been digging during the day, transplanting lilies from the front of this abandoned farmhouse back down the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-towell/my-wife-ann-and-i-had-been-digging-during-the-day-transplanting/) [Larry Towell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-towell/) > [I showed her how I'd been making tiny cuts in my skin to let the badness and the pain leak out. They were shallow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-showed-her-how-i-d-been-making-tiny-cuts-in-my-skin-to-let-the/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I went to the little church in the country after ten years in the city. And part of my dream was to sit on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brown-taylor/i-went-to-the-little-church-in-the-country-after-ten-years-in-the/) [Barbara Brown Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brown-taylor/) > [ \[T\]he final step in becoming an urban farmer is the naming of your farm, even if your name is simply for the few pots… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-peterson/t-he-final-step-in-becoming-an-urban-farmer-is-the-naming-of-your/) [Greg Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-peterson/) > [Frog said, 'I wrote 'Dear Toad, I am glad that you are my best friend. Your best friend, Frog.' 'Oh,' said Toad, 'that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-lobel/frog-said-i-wrote-dear-toad-i-am-glad-that-you-are-my-best-friend/) [Arnold Lobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-lobel/) > [Go out on the front porch of the house, turn the Washington Post over with your big toe, and if your name's above the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lance/go-out-on-the-front-porch-of-the-house-turn-the-washington-post-over/) [Bert Lance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-lance/) > [Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington -- it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-campaign-was-not-hatched-in-the-halls-of-washington-it-began-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [American democracy is the inalienable right to sit on your front porch, in your pyjamas, drinking a can of beer and shouting out 'Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/american-democracy-is-the-inalienable-right-to-sit-on-your-front/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/there-is-a-child-in-every-one-of-us-who-is-still-a-trick-or-treater/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [I am proud of being a Southerner. I wasn't about to let Southerners on my show be stupid or aw-shuckses who just sit on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-griffith/i-am-proud-of-being-a-southerner-i-wasn-t-about-to-let-southerners-on/) [Andy Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-griffith/) > [I like to sit on the front porch of an old cabin I built in the woods and just listen to the birds; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-like-to-sit-on-the-front-porch-of-an-old-cabin-i-built-in-the-woods/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Remember the hours after September 11th when we came together as one to answer the attack against our homeland. We drew strength when our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/remember-the-hours-after-september-11th-when-we-came-together-as-one/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## More by Jimmy Wales > [People are not fundamentally bad. It only takes the smallest of correctives to take care of that tiny minority that wants to disrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/people-are-not-fundamentally-bad-it-only-takes-the-smallest-of/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [Simply having rules does not change the things that people want to do. You have to change incentives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/simply-having-rules-does-not-change-the-things-that-people-want-to-do/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [I think that argument is completely morally bankrupt, and I think people know that when they make it. There's a very big difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/i-think-that-argument-is-completely-morally-bankrupt-and-i-think/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [I have said this many times in the past and will say it many times in the future I am sure: some people need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/i-have-said-this-many-times-in-the-past-and-will-say-it-many-times-in/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [The core community is passionate about quality and getting it right. If you want to read some good criticisms of Wikipedia, probably the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/the-core-community-is-passionate-about-quality-and-getting-it-right/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [People who have achieved a public voice find it a mixed bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/people-who-have-achieved-a-public-voice-find-it-a-mixed-bag/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [The core of Wikipedia is something people really believe in. That is too valuable for the world to screw it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/the-core-of-wikipedia-is-something-people-really-believe-in-that-is/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [It's kind of surprising that you could just open up a site and let people work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/it-s-kind-of-surprising-that-you-could-just-open-up-a-site-and-let/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [Wikis and social networking are just tools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/wikis-and-social-networking-are-just-tools/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [I think it's a mistake to treat different realms of knowledge as if they are some how fundamentally the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-treat-different-realms-of-knowledge-as-if/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [It turns out a lot of people don't get it. Wikipedia is like rock'n'roll; it's a cultural shift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/it-turns-out-a-lot-of-people-don-t-get-it-wikipedia-is-like-rock-n/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [Freely licensed textbooks are the next big thing in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/freely-licensed-textbooks-are-the-next-big-thing-in-education/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [We are still in the very beggining of the Internet. Let's use it wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/we-are-still-in-the-very-beggining-of-the-internet-let-s-use-it-wisely/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [If you see a blatant error or misconception about yourself, you really want to set it straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/if-you-see-a-blatant-error-or-misconception-about-yourself-you-really/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [“Now, you may think this is all kindergarten ethics, right down to the time-out for naught kids. If so, you are correct. … Civility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/now-you-may-think-this-is-all-kindergarten-ethics-right-down-to-the/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) [Explore all 105 Jimmy Wales quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) ## More Cheerful quotes > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-best-maxim-i-know-in-this-life-is-to-drink-your-coffee-when-you/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-washington/i-am-still-determined-to-be-cheerful-and-happy-in-whatever-situation/) [Martha Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-washington/) > [By experience; by a sense of human frailty; by a perception of "the soul of goodness in things evil;" by a cheerful trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/by-experience-by-a-sense-of-human-frailty-by-a-perception-of-the-soul/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [Bright reds - scarlet, pillar-box red, crimson or cherry - are very cheerful and youthful. There is certainly a red for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/bright-reds-scarlet-pillar-box-red-crimson-or-cherry-are-very/) [Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/) > [To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful, and pretty, yes pretty! There are too many unpleasant things in life as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/to-my-mind-a-picture-should-be-something-pleasant-cheerful-and-pretty/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [Well, we can ride together for a while longer. The highway south is farther along this way. I'll be glad of some cheerful company."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-we-can-ride-together-for-a-while-longer-the-highway-south-is/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [ It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existance, \[but\] you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/it-s-sad-if-people-think-that-s-homemaking-a-dull-existance-but-you/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [When I was about 17, I had a row with my mother and left home for six months, renting a flat and working as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robinson/when-i-was-about-17-i-had-a-row-with-my-mother-and-left-home-for-six/) [Anne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robinson/) > [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-was-broken-in-body-soul-and-spirit-my-natural-elasticity-was/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Love is a very contradiction of all the elements of our ordinary nature -- it makes the proud man meek -- the cheerful, sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/love-is-a-very-contradiction-of-all-the-elements-of-our-ordinary/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [To bear adversity with meek submission to the will of God; to endure chastisement with all long-suffering and joyfulness; to appear cheerful amid surrounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-angell-james/to-bear-adversity-with-meek-submission-to-the-will-of-god-to-endure/) [John Angell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-angell-james/) [Browse all 600 Cheerful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are growing from a cheerful small town where everyone waves off their front porch to the subway of New York City where everyone rushes by. 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