Quotes by James Rouse

An inspired, concerned and loving society will dignify man; will find the ways to develop his talent; will put the fruits of his labor and intellect to effective use; will achieve brotherhood; eliminate bigotry and intolerance; will care for the indigent, the delinquent, the sick, the aged; seek the truth and communicate it; respect differences among man.

Cities must be fun.

For many years, I have lived uncomfortably with the belief that most planning and architectural design suffers for lack of real and basic purpose. The ultimate purpose, it seems to me, must be the improvement of mankind.

I had a very bad year in my life. My mother died in February. I was 16 in April and graduated from high school that June. My father died in August and the mortgage was foreclosed in October. I can remember thinking, This is tough, but this is good for me. It's always stuck with me. I knew somehow that I was going through a period that was strengthening.

Profit is not the legitimate purpose of business. The legitimate purpose of business is to provide a product or service that people need and do it so well that it's profitable.

The desire for the creation to exist - not for a return on investment, not for what it may say about you, but for the love of the thing, the creation, itself. One creates music because we love it enough to make it happen. The reason you would create anything is because you love it enough to see it exist.

Visions describe what best should be, could be - if and when mankind has the will to make them real.

We created ways for people to care more deeply about one another, to stimulate, encourage, release creativity, minimize intolerance and bigotry.

Why isn't it natural for people who have lived and worked at something to want to use the knowledge and capacity in a new way, free from the burden of making a living?

Whatever ought to be, can be.