---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is in the genes of cities to bounce…"
description: "\"It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no choice but to survive and mo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/vikas-swarup-10025_apart_it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-b_35630.jpg"
---

#  It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters…

![“It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no choice but to survive and move on. But it is the manner in which different cities respond to emergencies that sets them apart.” quote by Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/vikas-swarup-10025_apart_it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-b_35630.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/vikas-swarup-10025_apart_it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-b_35630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/vikas-swarup-10025_apart_it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-b_35630.jpg)

> “It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no choice but to survive and move on. But it is the manner in which different cities respond to emergencies that sets them apart.”

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Cities possess an inherent resilience that enables recovery from both natural and human-made catastrophes, but the quality of their response distinguishes them.

**In simple terms:** Urban resilience varies by response quality.

Key Takeaway

Response quality defines city resilience.

Themes

resilience urban planning disaster recovery community adaptation governance

Mood

determined hopeful critical

Type

observational analytical

When to use this quote

- post‑earthquake rebuilding
- flood aftermath
- pandemic response
- industrial accident

Key Concepts

city infrastructure emergency management social cohesion

Practical Applications

- policy design for emergency preparedness
- urban renewal projects

Questions to Reflect On

- What policies most improve a city's capacity to bounce back?
- How can community engagement shape disaster response?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apart/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Bounce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounce/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Cities Bounce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities-bounce-440196/) [Cities Respond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities-respond-440193/) [Denizens Suburbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denizens-suburbia-440195/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Disasters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disasters/) [Disasters Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disasters-natural-440194/) [Emergencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emergencies/) [Genes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Manner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manner/) [Move](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move/) [Move on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-on/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Respond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respond/) [Sets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sets/) [Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [To survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/to-survive/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/)

## Related quotes

> [There also is the plight that comes from natural disasters; these natural disasters could be alleviated or dealt with; we only need some time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumibol-adulyadej/there-also-is-the-plight-that-comes-from-natural-disasters-these/)

[Bhumibol Adulyadej](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumibol-adulyadej/)

> [The main thing that endears the United Nations to member governments, and so enables it to survive, is its proven capacity to fail, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-cruise-o-brien/the-main-thing-that-endears-the-united-nations-to-member-governments/)

[Conor Cruise O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-cruise-o-brien/)

> [The people of Shishmaref want their community to survive, but they are holding on to their legacy by a very delicate thread indeed. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-j-berg/the-people-of-shishmaref-want-their-community-to-survive-but-they-are/)

[Amy J. Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-j-berg/)

> [I was not from a middle-class family at all. I did not have middle-class possessions and what have you. But I had middle-class parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-was-not-from-a-middle-class-family-at-all-i-did-not-have-middle/)

[Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/)

> [Baseball must be a great game to survive the fools who run it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-terry/baseball-must-be-a-great-game-to-survive-the-fools-who-run-it/)

[Bill Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-terry/)

> [I spent four years in the United States Army between 1985 and 1989, and I certainly learned how to survive out in the woods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-coleman/i-spent-four-years-in-the-united-states-army-between-1985-and-1989/)

[Chad Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-coleman/)

> [We need to have a modicum of faith in people's common sense, creativity and will to survive and prosper even in the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/we-need-to-have-a-modicum-of-faith-in-people-s-common-sense/)

[Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/)

> [I went into acting because I had to make a good living. I had a child now and I had to support him any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/i-went-into-acting-because-i-had-to-make-a-good-living-i-had-a-child/)

[David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/)

> [I truly believe that you have to bring more content to the table to survive in radio than saying, 'There was AC/DC, and here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/i-truly-believe-that-you-have-to-bring-more-content-to-the-table-to/)

[Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/)

> [There have been moments where I'm like, 'I don't know how I'm going to survive and pay next month's rent.' And the next month…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/there-have-been-moments-where-i-m-like-i-don-t-know-how-i-m-going-to/)

[Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/)

> [Usually when you're auditioning for something, you are taking whatever is coming at you and saying 'yes' because you have to to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-ralph/usually-when-you-re-auditioning-for-something-you-are-taking-whatever/)

[Jason Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-ralph/)

> [I wouldn't go so far to say that destiny preserves me. I managed to survive and to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/i-wouldn-t-go-so-far-to-say-that-destiny-preserves-me-i-managed-to/)

[Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/)

> [I always say God doesn't need me, but I need Him in my life to survive in this world and over temptation. That's Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pujols/i-always-say-god-doesn-t-need-me-but-i-need-him-in-my-life-to-survive/)

[Albert Pujols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pujols/)

> [People are proud to be from Baltimore. In any industry you work in, you need support to survive. And this city has that support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-waters/people-are-proud-to-be-from-baltimore-in-any-industry-you-work-in-you/)

[Derek Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-waters/)

> [I had to steal to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-had-to-steal-to-survive/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

## More by Vikas Swarup

> [The slums are not a place of despair. Its inhabitants are all working towards a better life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/the-slums-are-not-a-place-of-despair-its-inhabitants-are-all-working/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [That dreams have power only over your own mind. But with money you can have power over the minds of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/that-dreams-have-power-only-over-your-own-mind-but-with-money-you-can/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [Twenty20 is cricket on speed. In an era of hectic lifestyles and falling attention spans, it gives spectators more drama and intensity in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/twenty20-is-cricket-on-speed-in-an-era-of-hectic-lifestyles-and/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [I want to show that the underdog can win. I believe were all the same: you, a slum girl, my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/i-want-to-show-that-the-underdog-can-win-i-believe-were-all-the-same/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [“You must never take a direct route to your destination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/you-must-never-take-a-direct-route-to-your-destination/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [The first thing you have to understand is that I was not desperate to be a writer. I was never a closet writer filing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/the-first-thing-you-have-to-understand-is-that-i-was-not-desperate-to/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [“There is some pleasure even in pain. A sweet ecstasy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/there-is-some-pleasure-even-in-pain-a-sweet-ecstasy/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [India may be the soul of world cricket, but IPL is its commercial heart. Just as 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' changed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/india-may-be-the-soul-of-world-cricket-but-ipl-is-its-commercial/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [“It's a basic rule of human nature that the promise of unexpected wealth short-circuits both intelligence and common sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-s-a-basic-rule-of-human-nature-that-the-promise-of-unexpected/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [I am neither a Bengali nor am I from Delhi's St Stephen's. I am an Allahabad boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/i-am-neither-a-bengali-nor-am-i-from-delhi-s-st-stephen-s-i-am-an/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [“The city may have chosen to ignore the ugly growth of Dharavi, but a cancer cannot be stopped simply by being declared illegal. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/the-city-may-have-chosen-to-ignore-the-ugly-growth-of-dharavi-but-a/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [“I held my breath and wished for that moment to last as long as it possibly could, because a waking dream is always more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/i-held-my-breath-and-wished-for-that-moment-to-last-as-long-as-it/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [“Till now, my conception of love has been based entirely on what I have seen in Hindi films, where the hero and the heroine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/till-now-my-conception-of-love-has-been-based-entirely-on-what-i-have/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [I am not into the unrealistic realm of magic realism where birds talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/i-am-not-into-the-unrealistic-realm-of-magic-realism-where-birds-talk/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [I am very interested in human-interest stories emerging from modern India. I get my inspiration and daily dose by reading the 'Hindustan Times.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/i-am-very-interested-in-human-interest-stories-emerging-from-modern/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

[Explore all 68 Vikas Swarup quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

## More Apart quotes

> [There may be little practical difference between a Ford Mondeo and a BMW three series, but in terms of perceptions of who you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/there-may-be-little-practical-difference-between-a-ford-mondeo-and-a/)

[Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/)

> [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/)

[Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/)

> [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [I was one of those kids who took apart their toys to see how they work, just to see what they were made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/i-was-one-of-those-kids-who-took-apart-their-toys-to-see-how-they/)

[Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/)

> [When you cook a sausage, the skin sometimes breaks and the ground meat comes apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-cook-a-sausage-the-skin-sometimes-breaks-and-the-ground-meat/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I take apart restaurant menus everywhere I go. I kind of tick off a lot of chefs in restaurants because I'll say, 'You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/i-take-apart-restaurant-menus-everywhere-i-go-i-kind-of-tick-off-a/)

[Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/)

> [When two people are meant for each other, no time is too long, no distance is too far, and no one can ever tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-two-people-are-meant-for-each-other-no-time-is-too-long-no/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Marsala isn’t the one that’s going to keep you and Chansey apart. It’s you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-cates/marsala-isn-t-the-one-that-s-going-to-keep-you-and-chansey-apart-it-s/)

[Georgia Cates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-cates/)

> [I personally felt that his ad hominen attacks on British architects were not the sort of thing a Prince of Wales should be doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/i-personally-felt-that-his-ad-hominen-attacks-on-british-architects/)

[Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/)

> [The truth will form and fall apart again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-slean/the-truth-will-form-and-fall-apart-again/)

[Sarah Slean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-slean/)

> [Apart from education, you need good health, and for that, you need to play sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-dev/apart-from-education-you-need-good-health-and-for-that-you-need-to/)

[Kapil Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-dev/)

> [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/)

[Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/)

> [Child actors going on to become adult actors never really works, apart from a few. Jodie Foster was the exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lester/child-actors-going-on-to-become-adult-actors-never-really-works-apart/)

[Mark Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lester/)

> [War tore my family apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alek-wek/war-tore-my-family-apart/)

[Alek Wek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alek-wek/)

> [We're not falling in love. We're just falling apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-re-not-falling-in-love-we-re-just-falling-apart/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 905 Apart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apart/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no choice but to survive and move on. But it is the manner in which different cities respond to emergencies that sets them apart.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Vikas Swarup"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Apart"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/vikas-swarup-10025_apart_it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-b_35630.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/vikas-swarup-10025_apart_it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-b_35630.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/vikas-swarup-10025_apart_it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-b_35630.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of…” — Vikas Swarup",
                "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": "Vikas Swarup",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is in the genes of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
