Quotes by Jaime Lerner

About Jaime Lerner:

Jaime Lerner is a Brazilian politician. He was the governor of the state of Paraná, in southern Brazil. He is renowned as an architect and urban planner, having been mayor of Curitiba, capital of Paraná, three times (1971–75, 1979–84 and 1989–92). In 1994, Lerner was elected governor of Paraná, and was reelected in 1998.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

There is little in the architecture of a city that is more beautifully designed than a tree.

Jaime Lerner

A city is like a family portrait - you don't tear it up if you don't like your uncle's nose.

Jaime Lerner

Sometimes the media gives us the impression that we are terminal patients, because of problems of global warmth or the ozone layer. And the people, they don't understand that they can could change this situation for the better if they could act local...

Jaime Lerner

We have to change from 'ego-architecture' to 'eco-architecture.'

Jaime Lerner

Brazil will change when its cities change.

Jaime Lerner

A car is like a mother-in-law - if you let it, it will rule your life.

Jaime Lerner

I always try to say, 'If you want to help the environment, try to do just two things. One, use less of your car. Second, separate your garbage.'

Jaime Lerner

I always run into these Ph.D.s. They write and write and write about sustainable development. Then these guys ask me, 'But, how do you do it?' They are scared to death to do anything.

Jaime Lerner

The design of a city is like a strange archeology.

Jaime Lerner

I have realized after all these years that a city that has a good quality of life attracts jobs. People don't want to invest in places if there is no quality of life.

Jaime Lerner

A system of bus rapid transit is not only dedicated lanes. You have to have really good boarding conditions - that means paying before entering the bus and boarding at the same level. And at the same time having a good schedule and frequency.

Jaime Lerner

If you provide good alternatives for public transport, you won't have traffic problems.

Jaime Lerner

After working in cities for nearly 40 years, I am telling you that every city can improve its quality of life in less than three years, no matter the scale or the financial conditions.

Jaime Lerner

A lot of people assume that the expensive ideas are the most effective ones, but that is simply not true.

Jaime Lerner

If you want creativity, take a zero off your budget. If you want sustainability, take off two zeros.

Jaime Lerner

A city grows like an organism. It is a structure of living and working together a mix of functions.

Jaime Lerner

Cities are not problems. They are solutions.

Jaime Lerner

Every city has to deal with the problem of cars and public transport.

Jaime Lerner

Bureaucracy is like a fungus that contaminates everything.

Jaime Lerner

There is no place in a city that can't be better. There is no toad that can't be a princess, no frog that can't become a prince.

Jaime Lerner

Author Bio

  • NameJaime Lerner
  • DescriptionBrazilian politician and architect
  • BornDecember 17, 1937
  • CountryBrazil
  • ProfessionPolitician; Architect; Urban Planner
  • AwardsPrince Claus Awards