--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The interesting thing about cities isn’t…" description: "\"“The interesting thing about cities isn’t what they do when people are looking,” Ben says. “It’s what they do when they think nobody’s looking. Like, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/scott-kenemore-52537_bad-day_the-interesting-thing-about-cities-isn-t_2240348.jpg" --- # The interesting thing about cities isn’t what they do when… ![“The interesting thing about cities isn’t what they do when people are looking,” Ben says. “It’s what they do when they think nobody’s looking. Like, the shit the city is proud of? The shining skyscrapers downtown, the sports stadiums, the public art? You can’t judge a city by that. That only tells…” quote by Scott Kenemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/scott-kenemore-52537_bad-day_the-interesting-thing-about-cities-isn-t_2240348.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/scott-kenemore-52537_bad-day_the-interesting-thing-about-cities-isn-t_2240348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/scott-kenemore-52537_bad-day_the-interesting-thing-about-cities-isn-t_2240348.jpg) > ““The interesting thing about cities isn’t what they do when people are looking,” Ben says. “It’s what they do when they think nobody’s looking. Like, the shit the city is proud of? The shining skyscrapers downtown, the sports stadiums, the public art? You can’t judge a city by that. That only tells you what the rich people are doing on a good day. It’s what people do on a bad day—a bad day when there are no security cameras watching—that tells you what you really want to know. It’s how people act during a blackout, a hurricane, or a siege that tells you the truth about a city.”” [Scott Kenemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kenemore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A city’s true character emerges in unobserved moments, revealing authentic values beyond polished public displays. **In simple terms:** Real character shows when no one watches. Key Takeaway Observe everyday actions for true insight. Themes urban life authenticity social behavior public vs private human nature Mood curious analytical Type sociological observational When to use this quote - city festivals - emergencies - daily routines Key Concepts behavioral observation social psychology urban studies Questions to Reflect On - What hidden aspects define a city? - How do crises reveal community values? A Different Perspective Public appearances can be deceptive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-day/) [Ben Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ben-says/) [Cities Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities-isn-5076102/) [City Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-tells-5076101/) [Good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-day/) [People Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-looking/) [Public art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-art/) [Rich people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-people/) [Think Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-looking-446989/) ## Related quotes > [As Mayor, I will fully support my Arts Commission and its professional selection committees so that they can commission a full range of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/as-mayor-i-will-fully-support-my-arts-commission-and-its-professional/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [The art of cartooning is vulgarity. The only reason for cartooning to exist is to be on the edge. If you only take apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-bakshi/the-art-of-cartooning-is-vulgarity-the-only-reason-for-cartooning-to/) [Ralph Bakshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-bakshi/) > [I have to say that I reject somewhat the distinction between something called art and something called public art. I think all art demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-have-to-say-that-i-reject-somewhat-the-distinction-between/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [Clothing is viral, impermanent in a way that public art cannot be. So I like thinking of how corporate-created clothing can be seen as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-drain/clothing-is-viral-impermanent-in-a-way-that-public-art-cannot-be-so-i/) [Jim Drain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-drain/) > [Public art existed all along, but ecological art just naturally grew out of my thinking and writings in that area for years. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-denes/public-art-existed-all-along-but-ecological-art-just-naturally-grew/) [Agnes Denes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-denes/) > [I wouldn't be where I am today without the amazing public arts education that I had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/i-wouldn-t-be-where-i-am-today-without-the-amazing-public-arts/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) > [“And is it not the artists that make art? Well, no: criticism is now the substance of art making to such a degree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-shepheard/and-is-it-not-the-artists-that-make-art-well-no-criticism-is-now-the/) [Paul Shepheard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-shepheard/) > [It was Public Art, defined as art that is purchased by experts who are not spending their own personal money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/it-was-public-art-defined-as-art-that-is-purchased-by-experts-who-are/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Just as the development of earth art and installation art stemmed from the idea of taking art out of the galleries, the basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/just-as-the-development-of-earth-art-and-installation-art-stemmed/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [One must ease the public into it - that's an art in itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mapplethorpe/one-must-ease-the-public-into-it-that-s-an-art-in-itself/) [Robert Mapplethorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mapplethorpe/) > [I realized that the only possible response was to go to my wonderful local café, Maison Bertaux, check everyone was well, eat a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/i-realized-that-the-only-possible-response-was-to-go-to-my-wonderful/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [There is a connection, hard to explain logically but easy to feel, between achievement in public life and progress in the arts. The age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-is-a-connection-hard-to-explain-logically-but-easy-to-feel/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Scary in the idea it could be a little overwhelming to have 70 or 100 clowns in a public space. Intriguing in that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-king/scary-in-the-idea-it-could-be-a-little-overwhelming-to-have-70-or-100/) [Carole King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-king/) > [The definition of public art to me means everything and means nothing because for me, all art is public. Art has to be public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emi-fontana/the-definition-of-public-art-to-me-means-everything-and-means-nothing/) [Emi Fontana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emi-fontana/) > [I feel uncomfortable with the term public art, because I'm not sure what it means. If it means what I think it does, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-feel-uncomfortable-with-the-term-public-art-because-i-m-not-sure/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) ## More by Scott Kenemore > [Columbia is ... for people whose genitals still work, dammit. For writers who want to be brave and persevere in the real world where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kenemore/columbia-is-for-people-whose-genitals-still-work-dammit-for-writers/) [Scott Kenemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kenemore/) > [Have you ever felt as if other people were smarter than you? Quicker on the uptake? Zombies feel this way every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kenemore/have-you-ever-felt-as-if-other-people-were-smarter-than-you-quicker/) [Scott Kenemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kenemore/) > [When fighting zombies, the only comfort one can have--if, indeed, it can be called a "comfort"--is knowing where the zombies are. "They are over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kenemore/when-fighting-zombies-the-only-comfort-one-can-have-if-indeed-it-can/) [Scott Kenemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kenemore/) > [The motto of Harvard isn't 'nice,' it's truth. The motto of Yale isn't 'light and nice,' it's light and truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kenemore/the-motto-of-harvard-isn-t-nice-it-s-truth-the-motto-of-yale-isn-t/) [Scott Kenemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kenemore/) > [“Jesus and shotguns, I thought as I pulled away. 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There are so many bad days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/my-mum-always-taught-me-the-value-of-knowing-recognizing-and/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Today I will do my best.If I have a good day,i will be pruod of myself.If I have a bad day,I will not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix-mae/today-i-will-do-my-best-if-i-have-a-good-day-i-will-be-pruod-of/) [Nix Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix-mae/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. 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We're going to pass through many obstacles in our lives: good days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/remember-success-is-not-measured-by-heights-attained-but-by-obstacles/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. 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The challenged life may be the best therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-be-tested-is-good-the-challenged-life-may-be-the-best-therapist/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [But just remember, the next time you see a person, do not judge whats on the outside, we could be having a bad day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/but-just-remember-the-next-time-you-see-a-person-do-not-judge-whats/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [Every night I go to sleep smiling, even when I have a bad day. I'm just thankful that God allowed me to live it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-night-i-go-to-sleep-smiling-even-when-i-have-a-bad-day-i-m-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you have a bad day,pray. If you have a good day,pray. Pray for the best. Pray with the best. Prayer is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-you-have-a-bad-day-pray-if-you-have-a-good-day-pray-pray-for-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) [Browse all 1,054 Bad day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The interesting thing about cities isn’t what they do when people are looking,” Ben says. “It’s what they do when they think nobody’s looking. Like, the shit the city is proud of? The shining skyscrapers downtown, the sports stadiums, the public art? You can’t judge a city by that. That only tells you what the rich people are doing on a good day. It’s what people do on a bad day—a bad day when there are no security cameras watching—that tells you what you really want to know. 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