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William H. Whyte Quotes

Journalist

William H. Whyte was an American journalist known for his insightful observations and reporting on urban life. His work delved into the relationship between urban planning and human behavior, profoundly influencing modern urban studies.

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All People Next Cities Goal Has Beens Streets Together 1950 Accomplished Acquiescence

Famous William H. Whyte Quotes

“The great enemy of communication, we find, is the illusion of it. We have talked enough; but we have not listened. And by not listening we have failed to concede the immense complexity of our society—and thus the great gaps between ourselves and those with whom we seek understanding.”

Communication Fortune Misunderstanding 1950 Misattributed To Shaw

Author:William H. Whyte

“But the process should not be confused with science. When tests are used as selections devices, they're not a neutral tool; they become a large factor int he very equation they purport to measure. For one thing, the tests tend to screen out - or repel - those who would upset the correlation. If a man can't get into the company in the first place because he isn't the company type, he can't very well get to be an executive and be tested in a study to find out what kind if profile subsequent executives should match. Long before personality tests were invented, of course, plenty of companies proved that if you only hire people of a certain type, then all your successful men will be people of that type. But no one confused this with the immutable laws of science.”

Science Personality Testing

Book:The Organization Man

Source: The Organization Man

“We have been the most prodigal of people with land, and for years we wasted it with impunity. There was so much of it, and no matter how we fouled it, there was always more over the next hill, or so it seemed.”

People Years Has Beens Matter Next Land Hills Impunity Prodigals

Book:The Last Landscape

Source: The Last Landscape

“It’s not right to put water before people and then keep them away from it.”

People Water

Book:City: Rediscovering the Center

Source: City: Rediscovering the Center

“Nonconformity is an empty goal, and rebellion against prevailing opinion merely because it is prevailing should no more be praised than acquiescence to it. Indeed, it is often a mask for cowardice, and few are more pathetic than those who flaunt outer differences to expiate their inner surrender.”

Should Goal Differences Opinion Empty Surrender Mask Rebellion Cowardice Pathetic Prevailing Nonconformity Acquiescence

Book:The Organization Man

Source: The Organization Man

“People do not always argue because they misunderstand one another, they argue because they hold different goals.”

People Different Goal Arguing

Author:William H. Whyte

“People very rarely think in groups; they talk together, they exchange information, they adjudicate, they make compromises. But they do not think; they do not create.”

People Thinking Together Change Groups Information Compromise

Book:The Organization Man

Source: The Organization Man

“The onlooker had better wipe the sympathy off his face. What he has seen is a revolution, not the home of little cogs and drones. What he has seen is the dormitory of the next managerial class.”

Littles Home Faces Next Class Revolution Sympathy Wipe Drones Cogs Dormitory

Author:William H. Whyte

“What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people.”

People

Author:William H. Whyte

“It is difficult to design a space that will not attract people. What is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished.”

People Has Beens Difficult Space Cities Design Architecture Planning Accomplished Remarkable City Planning Urban Design Urbanization

Book:City: Rediscovering the Center

Source: City: Rediscovering the Center

“The human backside is a dimension architects seem to have forgotten.”

Humans Seems Forgotten Dimensions Architect Backsides

Author:William H. Whyte

“The street is the river of life of the city, the place where we come together, the pathway to the center.”

Together Cities Streets Rivers Pathways Where We Come

Book:City: Rediscovering the Center

Source: City: Rediscovering the Center

“So-called 'undesirables' are not the problem. It is the measures taken to combat them that is the problem.”

Problem Taken Combat

Author:William H. Whyte

“If you want to seed a place with activity, the first thing to do is to put out food.”

Ifs Want Activity Seeds

Author:William H. Whyte

“Trees are contagious; as soon as one neighborhood or street is planted, citizen pressure builds up for action from the next street.”

Action Next Tree Streets Citizens Pressure Neighborhood Contagious Eco

Author:William H. Whyte

“People tend to sit where there are places to sit”

People

Author:William H. Whyte

About the Author

Born: October 1, 1917
Died: January 12, 1999
Known for: Journalist
Quotes: 16

Books & Sources

City: Rediscovering the CenterRelated source material

The Organization ManRelated source material

The Last LandscapeRelated source material

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