Cracks Quote by William A. Rusher
![“One has to say that they [Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt] were pioneering to some extent. They didn't know that some of the housing projects that they were putting up for the poor were going to turn into crack dens and rapists' bowers and things of that sort, which they have since become. But you…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/564/william-a-rusher-20922_cracks_one-has-to-say-that-they-eleanor-and-fra_1164374.jpg)
“One has to say that they [Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt] were pioneering to some extent. They didn't know that some of the housing projects that they were putting up for the poor were going to turn into crack dens and rapists' bowers and things of that sort, which they have since become. But you can't always foresee the future. I'm sure their intentions were the best.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on urban policy, 1970s
The quote reflects on the unintended negative outcomes of well‑intentioned public housing initiatives, acknowledging that good intentions cannot always predict future misuse.
In simple terms: Good intentions can lead to bad results.
Key Takeaway
Plan for long‑term impacts and monitor outcomes.
Themes
urban policy
public housing
unintended consequences
historical reflection
Mood
cautious
reflective
critical
Type
historical
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- city planning
- government programs
- community development
- housing reform
- social services
Key Concepts
social engineering
policy failure
systemic risk
Questions to Reflect On
- How can policymakers anticipate misuse of projects?
- What safeguards can prevent such outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Even with best intentions, lack of foresight can cause harm.
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![“Well, at the time, we certainly regarded them [Elianor and Franklin Roosevelt] as partners. We did not know what has since come out about the difficulties of their marital life, or the problems that Franklin gave Eleanor and his mother gave Eleanor, in many respects. We didn't know much about that.” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cb9/william-a-rusher-20922_difficulty_well-at-the-time-we-certainly-regarded-t_2793348.jpg)
![“I don't think she ever had a single initiative at the United Nations that was not previously [vetted] by the people at the State Department, approved of, and authorized. She did manage to get around the world an awful lot, and find other parts of her vast slum project that needed repair. But I…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/67e/william-a-rusher-20922_accounts_i-don-t-think-she-ever-had-a-single-init_1803590.jpg)
![“I think the fact that she [Eleanor Roosevelt] was a woman probably in those days would have been an additional criticism, although first ladies by definition in those days were women. There's always been a problem and still is, about the role the first lady should play, of course. Everybody's seen…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dbf/william-a-rusher-20922_clinton_i-think-the-fact-that-she-eleanor-roosev_133419.jpg)
![“That was a general impression that one got, that she [Eleanor Roosevelt] was always flitting around the country and descending on some place in the Ozarks that she decided was disadvantaged, and announcing that something had to be done. And she had a very active social conscience, which I think in…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa0/william-a-rusher-20922_active_that-was-a-general-impression-that-one-g_1572497.jpg)
![“I think she [Eleanor Roosevelt] never was called because she probably didn't know an awful lot. The whole burden of the criticism of her on the subject of Communism is naiveté, not participation. And again, being a public figure and our representative at the UN, there was nothing Communist about…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c01/william-a-rusher-20922_awful_i-think-she-eleanor-roosevelt-never-was_1605673.jpg)
![“I'm a girl who has been tamping down her emotions and keeping them tightly guarded her whole life. And that works really well for me. [...] And now I felt like my shell had a dangerous crack in it. Without much more effort on his part, it would split wide open and my enormous river of emotions…” quote by James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/275/james-patterson-171_cracks_i-m-a-girl-who-has-been-tamping-down-her_48205.jpg)
