--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...sometimes the only way to call…" description: "\"“...sometimes the only way to call attention to bad construction was to set fire to the building.”\" — Larry Niven" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/larry-niven-4263_building_sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention_3213990.png" --- # ...sometimes the only way to call attention to bad… ![“...sometimes the only way to call attention to bad construction was to set fire to the building.” quote by Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/larry-niven-4263_building_sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention_3213990.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/larry-niven-4263_building_sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention_3213990.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/larry-niven-4263_building_sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention_3213990.png) > ““...sometimes the only way to call attention to bad construction was to set fire to the building.”” [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extreme measures may be used to highlight structural flaws when other methods fail. **In simple terms:** Setting fire exposes bad construction. Key Takeaway Consider bold actions to reveal hidden problems. Themes risk exposure problem‑solving Mood critical controversial Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - construction inspection - activism - creative protest - emergency response Key Concepts ethical dilemmas innovation Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to cause damage to fix an issue? - What non‑violent alternatives exist? A Different Perspective Destructive tactics can cause collateral damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) ## Related quotes > [“Find the most unique and unusual Set Building Venue across the London. The Lanterns Studio Theatre provides the fully adaptable and modular space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanterns-studio-theatre/find-the-most-unique-and-unusual-set-building-venue-across-the-london/) [Lanterns Studio Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanterns-studio-theatre/) > [As people buy less and less records, it's become more and more important for me to spend more and more on them - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/as-people-buy-less-and-less-records-it-s-become-more-and-more/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [But some people want attention so bad they want you to see them angry at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/godfrey/but-some-people-want-attention-so-bad-they-want-you-to-see-them-angry/) [Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/godfrey/) > [“It’s too bad war gets all the attention; it’s too bad the plant is easier to see than the root.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-conaway/it-s-too-bad-war-gets-all-the-attention-it-s-too-bad-the-plant-is/) [Cameron Conaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-conaway/) > [When you're five years old, and you're running a business that people did not think there was room for, getting attention is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/when-you-re-five-years-old-and-you-re-running-a-business-that-people-2/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [“How Tyler saw it was that getting God's attention for being bad was better than getting no attention at all. Maybe God's hate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/how-tyler-saw-it-was-that-getting-god-s-attention-for-being-bad-was/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I don't mind attention. It's bad attention I don't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-pearson/i-don-t-mind-attention-it-s-bad-attention-i-don-t-like/) [Adam Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-pearson/) > [When you're five years old, and you're running a business that people did not think there was room for... getting attention is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/when-you-re-five-years-old-and-you-re-running-a-business-that-people/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [Scores only matter if theyre very good, no one pays much attention to the bad or mediocre ones. -Portia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunger-games/scores-only-matter-if-theyre-very-good-no-one-pays-much-attention-to/) [Hunger Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunger-games/) > [I get just as excited about building a birdhouse as when providing strategic counsel to a client.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-peters/i-get-just-as-excited-about-building-a-birdhouse-as-when-providing/) Robert L. Peters > [Cities need old buildings so badly it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them… for really new ideas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/cities-need-old-buildings-so-badly-it-is-probably-impossible-for/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [“Create with the heart; build with the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/create-with-the-heart-build-with-the-mind/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [The more living patterns there are in a place - a room, a building, or a town - the more it comes to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/the-more-living-patterns-there-are-in-a-place-a-room-a-building-or-a/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [To follow good manners willingly is like paving the road and to tell somebody to follow them is like the road which is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-follow-good-manners-willingly-is-like-paving-the-road-and-to-tell/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) ## More by Larry Niven > [“Once Louis Wu had sworn to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/once-louis-wu-had-sworn-to-live-forever/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [In challenging a kzin, a simple scream of rage is sufficient. You scream and you leap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/in-challenging-a-kzin-a-simple-scream-of-rage-is-sufficient-you/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“There is no cause so good or noble that it will not attract fuggheads; and the fuggheads will get all the press.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/there-is-no-cause-so-good-or-noble-that-it-will-not-attract-fuggheads/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Music had played suddenly through the cabin, complex and lovely, rich in minor tones, like the sad call of a sex-maddened computer. Nessus whistled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/music-had-played-suddenly-through-the-cabin-complex-and-lovely-rich/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“This place is a playground for a questing mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/this-place-is-a-playground-for-a-questing-mind/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“have precious little free will," he was saying. "We're too intelligent not to see the right answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/have-precious-little-free-will-he-was-saying-we-re-too-intelligent/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“1a) Never throw shit at an armed man. 1b) Never stand next to someone who is throwing shit at an armed man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/1a-never-throw-shit-at-an-armed-man-1b-never-stand-next-to-someone/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [We learn only to ask more questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/we-learn-only-to-ask-more-questions/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Everything starts as somebody's dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/everything-starts-as-somebody-s-dream/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“I asked him, "Do you know the difference between nude and naked?" He shook his head. "Nude is artistic. Naked is defenseless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/i-asked-him-do-you-know-the-difference-between-nude-and-naked-he/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Intelligence is just a tool to be used toward a goal, and goals are not always chosen intelligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/intelligence-is-just-a-tool-to-be-used-toward-a-goal-and-goals-are/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [And every friend I've got has been writing Mars stories. It was pretty clear I'd never catch up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/and-every-friend-i-ve-got-has-been-writing-mars-stories-it-was-pretty/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [For each human being there is an optimum ratio between change and stasis. Too little change, he grows bored. Too little stability, he panics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/for-each-human-being-there-is-an-optimum-ratio-between-change-and/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Anything beats an expensive stack of paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/anything-beats-an-expensive-stack-of-paper/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Humans," said the puppeteer, "should not be allowed to run loose. You will surely harm yourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/humans-said-the-puppeteer-should-not-be-allowed-to-run-loose-you-will/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) [Explore all 112 Larry Niven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [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/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) Browse all 5,974 Building quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...sometimes the only way to call attention to bad construction was to set fire to the building.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Larry Niven" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention-to-bad-construction-was-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Building" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention-to-bad-construction-was-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/larry-niven-4263_building_sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention_3213990.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/larry-niven-4263_building_sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention_3213990.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/larry-niven-4263_building_sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention_3213990.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...sometimes the only way to call attention to bad construction was to set fire to the building.” — Larry Niven", "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": "Larry Niven", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...sometimes the only way to call...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention-to-bad-construction-was-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/sometimes-the-only-way-to-call-attention-to-bad-construction-was-to/#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 } } ] } ```