--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Californians are good at planning for the…" description: "\"Californians are good at planning for the earthquake, while simultaneously denying it will happen.\" — Sheila Ballantyne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/sheila-ballantyne-28630_californians_californians-are-good-at-planning-for-th_475922.jpg" --- # Californians are good at planning for the earthquake… ![“Californians are good at planning for the earthquake, while simultaneously denying it will happen.” quote by Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/sheila-ballantyne-28630_californians_californians-are-good-at-planning-for-th_475922.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/sheila-ballantyne-28630_californians_californians-are-good-at-planning-for-th_475922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/sheila-ballantyne-28630_californians_californians-are-good-at-planning-for-th_475922.jpg) > “Californians are good at planning for the earthquake, while simultaneously denying it will happen.” [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often prepare for disasters while refusing to accept their likelihood, creating a paradox of denial and readiness. **In simple terms:** People plan for earthquakes but deny they’ll happen. Key Takeaway Acknowledge risks honestly. Themes denial preparedness psychology Mood anxious reflective Type observational cautionary When to use this quote - public policy - personal safety - community drills - education campaigns Key Concepts cognitive bias risk perception Questions to Reflect On - How does denial affect safety measures? - What can reduce this paradox? A Different Perspective Denial can undermine effective preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Californians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/californians/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) ## Related quotes > [For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/for-the-hundreds-of-thousands-of-californians-in-gay-and-lesbian/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Californians devised a system of electricity sales that ignored every dimension of the free market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/californians-devised-a-system-of-electricity-sales-that-ignored-every/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [An old interview of Arnold Schwartzenegger has surfaced where he admits to smoking a lot of pot and having sex with hookers. Finally a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/an-old-interview-of-arnold-schwartzenegger-has-surfaced-where-he/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [According to the latest L.A. Times poll, 75% of Californians believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. And 60% of Californians are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/according-to-the-latest-l-a-times-poll-75-of-californians-believe-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I found while driving in Wyoming that wearing a stetson and driving a beat-up pickup meant you could go as fast as you like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-found-while-driving-in-wyoming-that-wearing-a-stetson-and-driving-a/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [When I ran against George Bush Sr. in 1992, and we did very well in New Hampshire, and then we went on to California,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/when-i-ran-against-george-bush-sr-in-1992-and-we-did-very-well-in-new/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [“There are no real Californians. There are only people who live there and people who don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kalpakian/there-are-no-real-californians-there-are-only-people-who-live-there/) Laura Kalpakian > [I've found that Californians care less about the 'R' or 'D,' by a candidate's name, and more about whether you can get the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/i-ve-found-that-californians-care-less-about-the-r-or-d-by-a/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [Public opinion has been evolving nationwide when it comes to marijuana policy, and Californians have always been ahead of the curve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kampia/public-opinion-has-been-evolving-nationwide-when-it-comes-to/) Rob Kampia > [Ultimately, of course, there is no excuse for being fat in this culture. It's the one last prejudice we allow ourselves, the final frontier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-rodgers/ultimately-of-course-there-is-no-excuse-for-being-fat-in-this-culture/) [Joni Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-rodgers/) > [California deserves whatever it gets. Californians invented the concept of life-style. This alone warrants their doom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/california-deserves-whatever-it-gets-californians-invented-the/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [You don't need it, but will you take some advice from a Californian who's been around for a while? Cherish these rivers. Witness for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/you-don-t-need-it-but-will-you-take-some-advice-from-a-californian/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [Californians invented the concept of life-style. This alone warrants their doom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/californians-invented-the-concept-of-life-style-this-alone-warrants/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I've lived in California for half of my life. It's weird, everyone thinks of me as this guy who's from the South ... I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-ve-lived-in-california-for-half-of-my-life-it-s-weird-everyone/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [About California... "I thought it was an appalling place. Then I went through a period of being amused by it. Now it's sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kingston/about-california-i-thought-it-was-an-appalling-place-then-i-went/) [Alex Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kingston/) ## More by Sheila Ballantyne > [Illusions are crucial to the maintenance of life functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/illusions-are-crucial-to-the-maintenance-of-life-functions/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [It's unbelievable the primitive feelings that are aroused by rapid change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/it-s-unbelievable-the-primitive-feelings-that-are-aroused-by-rapid/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [There is no irritant as painful as an ace up your sleeve that you can never use; it's the kind of thing that causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/there-is-no-irritant-as-painful-as-an-ace-up-your-sleeve-that-you-can/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [The moon develops the imagination, as chemicals develop photographic images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/the-moon-develops-the-imagination-as-chemicals-develop-photographic/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [If you have enough fantasies, you're ready, in the event that something happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/if-you-have-enough-fantasies-you-re-ready-in-the-event-that-something/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [Life is like a great jazz riff. You sense the end the very moment you were wanting it to go on forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/life-is-like-a-great-jazz-riff-you-sense-the-end-the-very-moment-you/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [You might not have thought it possible to give birth to others before one has given birth to oneself, but I assure you it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/you-might-not-have-thought-it-possible-to-give-birth-to-others-before/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [The trouble with going crazy is that you have to go around making it up to everyone afterwards. It seems they should be making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/the-trouble-with-going-crazy-is-that-you-have-to-go-around-making-it/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [“You can always trust information given to you by people who are crazy. They have access to truth not available through regular channels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/you-can-always-trust-information-given-to-you-by-people-who-are-crazy/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [everything is ambiguous. It's exciting, in a way, if you can tolerate ambiguity. I can't, but I'm taking a course where it's taught, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/everything-is-ambiguous-it-s-exciting-in-a-way-if-you-can-tolerate/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [Sundays are terrible because it is clear that there is no one in charge of the world. And this knowledge leave you drifting around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/sundays-are-terrible-because-it-is-clear-that-there-is-no-one-in/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [I can’t wait fifteen years to do my work: Because my ideas are coming now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/i-can-t-wait-fifteen-years-to-do-my-work-because-my-ideas-are-coming/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [It's expectation that differentiates you from the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/it-s-expectation-that-differentiates-you-from-the-dead/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [Some of my best friends are illusions. Been sustaining me for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/some-of-my-best-friends-are-illusions-been-sustaining-me-for-years/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [Ghetto humor is the social twin of fantasy; together they sustain the powerless, who accomplish miracles through illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/ghetto-humor-is-the-social-twin-of-fantasy-together-they-sustain-the/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) [Explore all 19 Sheila Ballantyne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) ## More Californians quotes > [For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/for-the-hundreds-of-thousands-of-californians-in-gay-and-lesbian/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I've lived in California for half of my life. It's weird, everyone thinks of me as this guy who's from the South ... I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-ve-lived-in-california-for-half-of-my-life-it-s-weird-everyone/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Californians invented the concept of life-style. This alone warrants their doom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/californians-invented-the-concept-of-life-style-this-alone-warrants/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [You don't need it, but will you take some advice from a Californian who's been around for a while? Cherish these rivers. Witness for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/you-don-t-need-it-but-will-you-take-some-advice-from-a-californian/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [California deserves whatever it gets. Californians invented the concept of life-style. This alone warrants their doom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/california-deserves-whatever-it-gets-californians-invented-the/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Ultimately, of course, there is no excuse for being fat in this culture. It's the one last prejudice we allow ourselves, the final frontier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-rodgers/ultimately-of-course-there-is-no-excuse-for-being-fat-in-this-culture/) [Joni Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-rodgers/) > [Public opinion has been evolving nationwide when it comes to marijuana policy, and Californians have always been ahead of the curve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kampia/public-opinion-has-been-evolving-nationwide-when-it-comes-to/) Rob Kampia > [I've found that Californians care less about the 'R' or 'D,' by a candidate's name, and more about whether you can get the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/i-ve-found-that-californians-care-less-about-the-r-or-d-by-a/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [“There are no real Californians. There are only people who live there and people who don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kalpakian/there-are-no-real-californians-there-are-only-people-who-live-there/) Laura Kalpakian > [When I ran against George Bush Sr. in 1992, and we did very well in New Hampshire, and then we went on to California,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/when-i-ran-against-george-bush-sr-in-1992-and-we-did-very-well-in-new/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I found while driving in Wyoming that wearing a stetson and driving a beat-up pickup meant you could go as fast as you like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-found-while-driving-in-wyoming-that-wearing-a-stetson-and-driving-a/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [According to the latest L.A. Times poll, 75% of Californians believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. And 60% of Californians are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/according-to-the-latest-l-a-times-poll-75-of-californians-believe-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [An old interview of Arnold Schwartzenegger has surfaced where he admits to smoking a lot of pot and having sex with hookers. Finally a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/an-old-interview-of-arnold-schwartzenegger-has-surfaced-where-he/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Californians devised a system of electricity sales that ignored every dimension of the free market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/californians-devised-a-system-of-electricity-sales-that-ignored-every/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [About California... "I thought it was an appalling place. Then I went through a period of being amused by it. Now it's sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kingston/about-california-i-thought-it-was-an-appalling-place-then-i-went/) [Alex Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kingston/) [Browse all 75 Californians quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/californians/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Californians are good at planning for the earthquake, while simultaneously denying it will happen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sheila Ballantyne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/californians-are-good-at-planning-for-the-earthquake-while/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Californians" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/californians-are-good-at-planning-for-the-earthquake-while/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/sheila-ballantyne-28630_californians_californians-are-good-at-planning-for-th_475922.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/sheila-ballantyne-28630_californians_californians-are-good-at-planning-for-th_475922.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/sheila-ballantyne-28630_californians_californians-are-good-at-planning-for-th_475922.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Californians are good at planning for the earthquake, while simultaneously denying it will happen.” — Sheila Ballantyne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sheila Ballantyne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Californians are good at planning for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/californians-are-good-at-planning-for-the-earthquake-while/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/californians-are-good-at-planning-for-the-earthquake-while/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```