Civic improvement Quotes

If you want to know how to solve society's problems, you start out with better public education.

Under our institutions the only way to perfect the Government is to perfect the individual citizen. It is necessary to reach the mind and soul of the individual. I know of no way that this can be done save through the influence of religion and education. By religion I do not mean fanaticism or bigotry; by education I do not mean the cant of the schools, but a broad and tolerant faith, loving thy neighbor as thyself, and a training and experience that enables the human mind to see into the heart of things.

The law firms of the city swoop down like vultures on the land owners of any neighborhood where a civic improvement is planned, sometimes fifteen years in advance of actual sale, and "sign them up" in a house to house canvass with an agreement that the law firm shall receive 5 per cent of the total award. That means, of course, $50,000 for a million dollar award which can often be secured from friendly courts with very little labor. The labor, in fact, is nearly all in getting the clients and holding them together. The actual condemnation cases are perfunctory affairs. The claimants have an expert who has become known as a professional optimist. The city has an expert who is only slightly less optimistic.

It has always been, and still is, my intention to build a playground in Central Park.

In the year since we brought things into the open with a clean breath of fresh air at City Hall, we have learned about corrupt spending practices and unethical conflicts of interest that waste your money... and keep Dallas from being the great city of our dreams.

Maybe we can show government how to operate better as a result of better architecture. Eventually, I think Chicago will be the most beautiful great city left in the world.

In revering the Founders, we undervalue ourselves and sabotage our own efforts to make improvements - necessary improvements - in the republican experiment they began.

All education in a country has got to be demonstrably in promotion of the progress of the country in which it is given.

I want to be part of a family which wants to improve Indian democracy.

For my part, I desire to see the time when education - and by its means, morality, sobriety, enterprise and industry - shall become much more general than at present, and should be gratified to have it in my power to contribute something to the advancement of any measure which might have a tendency to accelerate the happy period.

The best service that can be rendered to a Country, next to that of giving it liberty, is in diffusing the mental improvement equally essential to the preservation, and the enjoyment of the blessing.

My goal is always to create something exceptional that enhances cities and enriches the lives of the people who live and work in them.