--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Notre Dame and Sydney - that was nothing…" description: "\"Notre Dame and Sydney - that was nothing. Notre Dame doesn't have a police station; it is not 1,000 or so feet high. It was a public structure, very ea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd6/philippe-petit-3697_access_notre-dame-and-sydney-that-was-nothing-n_1609707.jpg" --- # Notre Dame and Sydney - that was nothing. Notre Dame… ![“Notre Dame and Sydney - that was nothing. Notre Dame doesn't have a police station; it is not 1,000 or so feet high. It was a public structure, very easy to access. And Sydney Harbour Bridge was half-and-half: a bridge, in the middle of the night. The World Trade Center was the end of the world…” quote by Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd6/philippe-petit-3697_access_notre-dame-and-sydney-that-was-nothing-n_1609707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd6/philippe-petit-3697_access_notre-dame-and-sydney-that-was-nothing-n_1609707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd6/philippe-petit-3697_access_notre-dame-and-sydney-that-was-nothing-n_1609707.jpg) > “Notre Dame and Sydney - that was nothing. Notre Dame doesn't have a police station; it is not 1,000 or so feet high. It was a public structure, very easy to access. And Sydney Harbour Bridge was half-and-half: a bridge, in the middle of the night. The World Trade Center was the end of the world. Electronic devices, police dogs.” [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The comparison highlights how accessibility and openness affect perceived security and impact of structures. **In simple terms:** Open, accessible places feel less safe but more connected. Key Takeaway Design spaces that balance openness with safety. Themes architecture security public space perception risk Mood analytical concerned thoughtful Type sociological practical When to use this quote - city planning - event security - public art installations - crowd management Key Concepts urban design psychology sociology Questions to Reflect On - What balance of openness and security best serves community needs? - How does perceived safety shape public behavior? A Different Perspective Too much openness can invite danger; too much security can alienate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs/) [End of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-world/) [Middle of the night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-of-the-night/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Notre dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notre-dame/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Sydney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sydney/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-trade/) [World trade center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-trade-center/) ## Related quotes > [Materia had been just six when they docked in Sydney Harbour and her father said, 'Look. This is the New World. Anything is possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-marie-macdonald/materia-had-been-just-six-when-they-docked-in-sydney-harbour-and-her/) [Ann-Marie MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-marie-macdonald/) > [People sometimes forget that Sydney is a harbour and it's the ferries that make it unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-torode/people-sometimes-forget-that-sydney-is-a-harbour-and-it-s-the-ferries/) [John Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-torode/) > [I started putting a wire up in secret and performing without permission. Notre Dame, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the World Trade Center. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-started-putting-a-wire-up-in-secret-and-performing-without/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [My first walk illegally at 20 years old was between the towers of Notre Dame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/my-first-walk-illegally-at-20-years-old-was-between-the-towers-of/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [“So we have twenty-four hours to keep out of trouble,’ he says to me. I slide a glance in his direction. Judging from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alderson/so-we-have-twenty-four-hours-to-keep-out-of-trouble-he-says-to-me-i/) [Sarah Alderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alderson/) > [In India, going to a police station is not the most pleasant experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanushree-dutta/in-india-going-to-a-police-station-is-not-the-most-pleasant-experience/) [Tanushree Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanushree-dutta/) > [The toilets at a local police station have been stolen. Police say they have nothing to go on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-barker/the-toilets-at-a-local-police-station-have-been-stolen-police-say/) [Ronnie Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-barker/) > [“Two hundred metres away from the cafe in Colaba police station, the duty inspector heard the rounds tumble and fizz, wondering if they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-scott-clark-and-adrian-levy/two-hundred-metres-away-from-the-cafe-in-colaba-police-station-the/) Cathy Scott-Clark and Adrian Levy > [“If I ever become a serial murderer, I'll be very careful to kill people in a pattern that centres around a police station -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/if-i-ever-become-a-serial-murderer-i-ll-be-very-careful-to-kill/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“I am taken to the police station and they place me in an interrogation room. I am there for about thirty minutes before someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-ortiz/i-am-taken-to-the-police-station-and-they-place-me-in-an/) Jorge Ortiz > [My accident happened in what should have been one of the safest places to be: in a police station, at the hands of trained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-langevin/my-accident-happened-in-what-should-have-been-one-of-the-safest/) [James Langevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-langevin/) > [“Did you hear about the toilet being stolen from the police station? The cops have nothing to go on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry-alan-zweibel/did-you-hear-about-the-toilet-being-stolen-from-the-police-station/) Dave Barry Alan Zweibel > [“As Abdul and his family had already learned, the police station was not a place where victimhood was redressed and public safety held dear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/as-abdul-and-his-family-had-already-learned-the-police-station-was/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [We need to have a system whereby, when a victim walks into a police station, she can be confident that she will be believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/we-need-to-have-a-system-whereby-when-a-victim-walks-into-a-police/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [“You can't be a proper officer with your dad holding your hand. Everyone at the police station will laugh at you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zuni-blue/you-can-t-be-a-proper-officer-with-your-dad-holding-your-hand/) Zuni Blue ## More by Philippe Petit > [If I look at the performance of another friend Sting, whenever I hear him take over a stage and share his art with millions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-look-at-the-performance-of-another-friend-sting-whenever-i-hear/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I am a wire-walker. I can walk any time, anywhere - I'm indestructible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-wire-walker-i-can-walk-any-time-anywhere-i-m-indestructible/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I have been performing in the street for more than 50 years: magic for basically 60 years, and the high wire 45 years. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-been-performing-in-the-street-for-more-than-50-years-magic-for/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I needed more knowledge in rigging and knotting. I started collecting books on knots and really learning more and more. That's how it started.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-needed-more-knowledge-in-rigging-and-knotting-i-started-collecting/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [To be able to create fully, it's maybe fine that you learn the rules, but you have to forget and to rebel against those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/to-be-able-to-create-fully-it-s-maybe-fine-that-you-learn-the-rules/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When a loved one disappears, you continue to live with the accompaniment of that person. One has to find a balance between joy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-a-loved-one-disappears-you-continue-to-live-with-the/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [You must not fall. / When you lose your balance, resist for a long time before turning yourself toward the earth. Then jump. /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/you-must-not-fall-when-you-lose-your-balance-resist-for-a-long-time/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When I was six years old, I fell in love with magic. For Christmas, I got a magic box and a very old book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-was-six-years-old-i-fell-in-love-with-magic-for-christmas-i/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I don't like to risk my life, so I prepare sometimes for months or sometimes for years. But sometimes after a walk, I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-don-t-like-to-risk-my-life-so-i-prepare-sometimes-for-months-or/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When I perform outside, the major problem that could arise is strong wind.I spend months preparing for the types of wind that occur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-perform-outside-the-major-problem-that-could-arise-is-strong/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [If I have to make a self-portrait, I would put poetry and rebellion on the list. To be able to walk on a wire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-have-to-make-a-self-portrait-i-would-put-poetry-and-rebellion-on/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Whenever other worlds invite us, whenever we are balancing on the boundaries of our limited human condition, that’s where life starts, that’s where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/whenever-other-worlds-invite-us-whenever-we-are-balancing-on-the/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I have walked many times around the world and each time it's different from the last one. It feels a little bit like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-walked-many-times-around-the-world-and-each-time-it-s/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I am a thief of knowledge, and in a survival way, I had to solve all the problems around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-thief-of-knowledge-and-in-a-survival-way-i-had-to-solve-all/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Metaphorically speaking, of course, if I put a problem behind my pillow and fall asleep, very often because my brain went to sleep with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/metaphorically-speaking-of-course-if-i-put-a-problem-behind-my-pillow/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) [Explore all 124 Philippe Petit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) ## More Access quotes > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/you-can-disseminate-your-art-and-it-s-all-such-easy-access-now-the/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Because the Internet's there, I have access to a lot of the legends, like Fela Kuti. I used to watch a lot of Fela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-krule/because-the-internet-s-there-i-have-access-to-a-lot-of-the-legends/) [King Krule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-krule/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Now that I'm more middle class, I have access to consumer goods. I do enjoy feminine frippery, feminine doo-da, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/now-that-i-m-more-middle-class-i-have-access-to-consumer-goods-i-do/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. 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