Change Quote by Michel de Certeau
““Finally, the functionalist organization, by privileging progress (i.e. time), causes the condition of its own possibility--space itself--to be forgotten: space thus becomes the blind spot in a scientific and political technology. This is the way in which the Concept-city functions: a place of transformations and appropriations, the object of various kinds of interference but also a subject that is constantly enriched by new attributes, it is simultaneously the machinery and the hero of modernity.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Practice of Everyday Life, Michel de Certeau, 1980
Modern functionalist systems prioritize time and progress, neglecting the spatial dimension, which becomes invisible yet essential for transformation and enrichment.
In simple terms: Progress-focused systems ignore space, which is crucial for change.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and integrate spatial thinking in planning.
Themes
modernity
space
technology
transformation
politics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
theoretical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- policy design
- architectural projects
- social movements
Key Concepts
functionalism
spatial theory
urban studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance time and space in decision making?
- What spatial factors are missing in current policies?
A Different Perspective
Space cannot be fully ignored without limiting innovation.
![“His [the pedestrian's] elevation transfigures him into a voyeur. It puts his at a distance. It transforms the bewitching world by which one was 'possessed' into a text that lies before one's eyes. It allows one to read it, to be a solar Eye, looking down like a god. The exaltation of a scopic and…” quote by Michel de Certeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e6f/michel-de-certeau-15812_92_his-the-pedestrian-s-elevation-transfigu_256393.jpg)
![“When he grew old, Aristotle, who is not generally considered a tightrope dancer, liked to lose himself in the most labyrinthine and subtle of discourses […]. ‘The more solitary and isolated I become, the more I come to like stories,’ he said.” quote by Michel de Certeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/11a/michel-de-certeau-15812_dance_when-he-grew-old-aristotle-who-is-not-ge_702039.jpg)
