Gehl Quotes & Sayings

I think you should try ... not to try to be better than everyone around you, but try to be better than yourself everyday. — Anderson Silva

Cities must urge urban planners and architects to reinforce pedestrianism as an integrated city policy to develop lively, safe, sustainable and healthy cities. It is equally urgent to strengthen the social function of city space as a meeting place that contributes toward the aims of social sustainability and an open and democratic society. — Jan Gehl

Lucas' mind was an interesting place. He was always thinking of a back up plan, there was always an escape already in place just in case things went wrong. It was fascinating, yet frightening at the same time. Through his memories I was able to determine that at some point in his life, he was actually a decent human being. — Nicole Sobon

My brothers and I love A Christmas Story. It reminds us of ourselves when we were that age."
"Your father didn't want to give you a BB shotgun because you might shoot your eye out? — Terry Spear

Nothing in this world is more simple and more cheap than making cities that provide better for people. — Jan Gehl

Something happens because something happens because something happens — Jan Gehl

I find it striking that the quality of the urban habitat of homo sapieans is so weakly researched compared to the habitats of gorillas, elephants, and Bengal tigers and panda bears in China ... you hardly see anything on the habitat of man in the urban environment. — Jan Gehl

If you make more roads, you will have more traffic. — Jan Gehl

An endless number of green buildings doesn't make a sustainable city. — Jan Gehl

Democracy may have arisen in the West as the way of striving for the universal aspiration to dignity and freedom, but it isn't alien to the underlying concepts that infuse religion and moral philosophy everywhere. — Flora Lewis

In a Society becoming steadily more privatized with private homes, cars, computers, offices and shopping centers, the public component of our lives is disappearing. It is more and more important to make the cities inviting, so we can meet our fellow citizens face to face and experience directly through our senses. Public life in good quality public spaces is an important part of a democratic life and a full life. — Jan Gehl

Make it nice where you are, and put the density on top. — Jan Gehl

Whatever you accept completely will take you to peace, including the acceptance that you cannot accept, that you are in resistance. — Eckhart Tolle

A good city is like a good party - people stay longer than really necessary, because they are enjoying themselves, — Jan Gehl

Have we," asks Claude de Saint-Martin, the great 'unknown philosopher,' "have we advanced one step further on the radiant path of enlightenment, that leads to the simplicity of men?" Let us wait in silence: perhaps ere long we shall be conscious of "the murmur of the gods. — Maurice Maeterlinck

Only architecture that considers human scale and interaction is successful architecture. — Jan Gehl

Cultures and climates differ all over the world, but people are the same. They'll gather in public if you give them a good place to do it. — Jan Gehl

First life, then spaces, then buildings - the other way around never works. — Jan Gehl

I often want to go to the movies and see something that transports you beyond the infinite. — Jonathan Nolan