--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we were redesigning around people…" description: "\"If we were redesigning around people instead of around automobiles, which I think the market is more or less going to do, although too slowly, than I'd..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d8/paul-r-ehrlich-13046_automobile_if-we-were-redesigning-around-people-ins_289102.jpg" --- # If we were redesigning around people instead of around… ![“If we were redesigning around people instead of around automobiles, which I think the market is more or less going to do, although too slowly, than I'd be a lot cheerier.” quote by Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d8/paul-r-ehrlich-13046_automobile_if-we-were-redesigning-around-people-ins_289102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d8/paul-r-ehrlich-13046_automobile_if-we-were-redesigning-around-people-ins_289102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d8/paul-r-ehrlich-13046_automobile_if-we-were-redesigning-around-people-ins_289102.jpg) > “If we were redesigning around people instead of around automobiles, which I think the market is more or less going to do, although too slowly, than I'd be a lot cheerier.” [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Designing cities for people rather than cars would improve livability, but progress is slow. **In simple terms:** Focus on people, not cars, for better cities. Key Takeaway Advocate human‑centered design. Themes urban planning human‑centered design transportation sustainability Mood optimistic concerned Type policy inspirational When to use this quote - city council meetings - community workshops - policy proposals - public advocacy Key Concepts livability equity public health environmental impact Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens accelerate human‑centered urban change? - What policies best shift design focus? A Different Perspective Implementation faces entrenched automotive industry interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Automobile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automobile/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Companies that start by redesigning the economics of an industry often finish by redesigning the whole industry-and owning it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/companies-that-start-by-redesigning-the-economics-of-an-industry/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [For many years I have advocated 'redesigning Parliament' in a variety of ways - elect the Senate, do away with the 'confidence convention,' permit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-manning/for-many-years-i-have-advocated-redesigning-parliament-in-a-variety/) [Preston Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-manning/) > [I'm sort of optimistic about what we could do, but I'm very pessimistic about what we will do. I can't tell you that Al…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/i-m-sort-of-optimistic-about-what-we-could-do-but-i-m-very/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [Recycling helps make people feel involved, and in some cases can be useful. Although you've got to do careful life history studies of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/recycling-helps-make-people-feel-involved-and-in-some-cases-can-be/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [“Sometimes it's easier to figure things out for people instead of yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jordan/sometimes-it-s-easier-to-figure-things-out-for-people-instead-of/) Sabrina Jordan > [I want to stress to people to be themselves instead of trying to be like others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrueche-tran/i-want-to-stress-to-people-to-be-themselves-instead-of-trying-to-be/) [Karrueche Tran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrueche-tran/) > [When we put country first, it's amazing that we're going to be able to bring people together instead of dividing America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-glenn/when-we-put-country-first-it-s-amazing-that-we-re-going-to-be-able-to/) [Darryl Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-glenn/) > [It always helps to think about other people instead of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/it-always-helps-to-think-about-other-people-instead-of-ourselves/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [People, instead of competing, they can actually support each other, in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-grenier/people-instead-of-competing-they-can-actually-support-each-other-in/) [Adrian Grenier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-grenier/) > [“There are terrible people who, instead of solving a problem, bungle it and make it more difficult for all who come after. Whoever can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/there-are-terrible-people-who-instead-of-solving-a-problem-bungle-it/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“It's about time that governments feared the people instead of the other way around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/it-s-about-time-that-governments-feared-the-people-instead-of-the/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In the first place, you’re way off when you start railing at things and people instead of at yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-first-place-you-re-way-off-when-you-start-railing-at-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We asked for workers. We got people instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/we-asked-for-workers-we-got-people-instead/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) > [(Stereotyping) is only for those without the imagination to see people as they are instead of being like someone else they understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/stereotyping-is-only-for-those-without-the-imagination-to-see-people/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [“Why must we spend so much of our lives missing people instead of being with them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/why-must-we-spend-so-much-of-our-lives-missing-people-instead-of/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) ## More by Paul R. Ehrlich > [We're never all going to agree with each other. We have to learn to value the diversity. It's one of the presumable principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/we-re-never-all-going-to-agree-with-each-other-we-have-to-learn-to/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [With taxes, if they aren't working right, we can change them with a stroke of the pen. It's basically a market-type mechanism. People make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/with-taxes-if-they-aren-t-working-right-we-can-change-them-with-a/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [There's all of this stuff where we have so much debate over nonsense; it could be cured if we had a better educational system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/there-s-all-of-this-stuff-where-we-have-so-much-debate-over-nonsense/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [ In ten years \[i.e., 1980\] all important animal life in the sea will be extinct. Large areas of coastline will have to be evacuated… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/in-ten-years-i-e-1980-all-important-animal-life-in-the-sea-will-be/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [So, regarding the time frame, I'm only too willing to admit that my crystal ball, like everybody else's, is cracked. If I could predict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/so-regarding-the-time-frame-i-m-only-too-willing-to-admit-that-my/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [Sometimes I think the Congress feels that if you only decided tomorrow to switch to wind power that in two years we'd be getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/sometimes-i-think-the-congress-feels-that-if-you-only-decided/) [Paul R. 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Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [It turns out the population issue is an easier thing to deal with than the consumption issue. Some obvious extremes in consumption we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/it-turns-out-the-population-issue-is-an-easier-thing-to-deal-with/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [Overall, The Population Bomb was probably too optimistic. I was writing about climate change - Anne and I actually wrote the book. We discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/overall-the-population-bomb-was-probably-too-optimistic-i-was-writing/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [I don't think scientists can dictate from above what we should do, because it's not a matter of scientific decision. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/i-don-t-think-scientists-can-dictate-from-above-what-we-should-do/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [Organisms are starting to move in response to climate change all over the place. Bees are disappearing and we don't have many of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/organisms-are-starting-to-move-in-response-to-climate-change-all-over/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [Woman should have the choice whether to have an abortion or not, but I like what Bill Clinton said: It ought to be safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/woman-should-have-the-choice-whether-to-have-an-abortion-or-not-but-i/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [After The Bomb we developed a fairly good system for moving food around and have avoided the kind of massive famines that attract the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/after-the-bomb-we-developed-a-fairly-good-system-for-moving-food/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) [Explore all 52 Paul R. Ehrlich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) ## More Automobile quotes > [“A car is one of the most interesting inventions, but driving is one of the most boring activities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-car-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-inventions-but-driving-is-one-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [So the poet, who wants to be something that he cannot be, and is a failure in plain life, makes up fictitious versions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/so-the-poet-who-wants-to-be-something-that-he-cannot-be-and-is-a/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Having spent years ruining the housing markets with their interference, leading to a housing meltdown that has taken the whole economy down with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/having-spent-years-ruining-the-housing-markets-with-their/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [There comes a day of public ceremonial, and a chance to make a speech… A million voters with IQs below 60 have their ears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/there-comes-a-day-of-public-ceremonial-and-a-chance-to-make-a-speech/) [H. 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The fear that something may happen to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/in-spite-of-being-happier-than-i-ever-dreamed-i-could-be-i-m-also/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [But it is my total conviction that all the trappings of good leadership are generic and widely applicable whether you are standing in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cosgrove/but-it-is-my-total-conviction-that-all-the-trappings-of-good/) [Peter Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cosgrove/) > [You can see what man made from the seat of an automobile, but the best way to see what God made is from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-marion-russell/you-can-see-what-man-made-from-the-seat-of-an-automobile-but-the-best/) [Charles Marion Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-marion-russell/) > [The electronics industry expanded rapidly and the seeds for the semiconductor and software revolution were planted. The postwar period also saw the suburbanization of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/the-electronics-industry-expanded-rapidly-and-the-seeds-for-the/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [I'm a huge fan of John Hughes and can say that 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' is easily a top 3 favorite. I'm also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcpartlin/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-john-hughes-and-can-say-that-planes-trains-and/) [Ryan McPartlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcpartlin/) > [“Most people do not realize that they are one car crash away from death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/most-people-do-not-realize-that-they-are-one-car-crash-away-from-death/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [This country has achieved its commercial and financial supremacy under a regime of private ownership. 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