“A particular rule that seems to make sense in the individual case makes no sense when it is made a universal rule and applied to all cases. It makes no sense because it fails to take into account the connection between one broken window left untended and a thousand broken windows.” MadeSeemsIndividualLeftCasesFailingParticularBrokenThousandWindowConnectionsUniversalAccountsMake SenseBroken Windows Book:Thinking about Crime Source: Thinking about Crime
“One unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.” CareBrokenCostWindowSignalsNo One CaresBroken Windows Book:On Character: Essays Source: On Character: Essays
“Police ought to protect communities as well as individuals.... Just as physicians now recognize the importance of fostering health rather than simply treating illness, so the police - and the rest of us - ought to recognize the importance of maintaining, intact, communities without broken windows.” WellsIndividualCommunityBrokenOughtProtectWindowImportancePoliceIllnessPhysiciansMaintainingFosteringBroken Windows Book:On Character: Essays Source: On Character: Essays
“Public order is a fragile thing, and if you don't fix the first broken window, soon all the windows will be broken.” IfsFirstsOrderBrokenWindowFragileFragile ThingsBroken Windows Author:James Q. Wilson
“Window-breaking does not necessarily occur on a large scale because some areas are inhabited by determined window-breakers whereas others are populated by window-lovers; rather, one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.” DoeCareBrokenLoversCostAreasWindowDeterminedScalesSignalsLarge ScaleNo One CaresBroken Windows Book:On Character: Essays Source: On Character: Essays
“Broken Window Theory: Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it's unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside. Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or even break into cars.” PeopleIfsMayLightBreakFireCarBuildingTheoryBrokenWindowLeavingTendenciesRestaurantsBagsTrashSidewalkVandalsFire InsideSquattersBroken Windows Author:James Q. Wilson
