Acres Quote by P. J. O'Rourke
“I can think of a number of areas in New York where three acres of nuclear waste would make the neighborhood safer to walk around in than it is now, and better lit.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Nuclear Waste Neighborhood” (1995)
A hyperbolic claim that nuclear waste would improve safety, critiquing urban decay and lighting.
In simple terms: Nuclear waste as satire for safety.
Key Takeaway
Use humor to highlight city issues.
Themes
urban decay
satire
public safety
Mood
witty
critical
Type
satirical
political
When to use this quote
- city planning
- public debates
- environmental activism
Key Concepts
environment
policy
urban planning
Questions to Reflect On
- What absurd solutions expose real problems?
- How can cities improve safety responsibly?
A Different Perspective
Satire may be misinterpreted as endorsement.
![“[Footnote:] Pliny the Elder described a Whale called "Balaena or Whirlpool, which is so long and broad as to take up more in length and breadth than two acres of ground." This brings up again the old question: Are the classics doomed? Our ancestors believed that four years of this sort of…” quote by Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c1/will-cuppy-7569_acres_footnote-pliny-the-elder-described-a-wha_84284.jpg)
