“The chief function of the city is to convert power into form, energy into culture, dead matter into the living symbols of art, biological reproduction into social creativity.”
Cite this quote
APA
Mumford, L. (n.d.). The chief function of the city is to convert power into form, energy into culture, dead matter into the living symbols of art, biological reproduction into social creativity. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5134-the-chief-function-of-the-city-is-to/
MLA
Mumford, Lewis. “The chief function of the city is to convert power into form, energy into culture, dead matter into the living symbols of art, biological reproduction into social creativity.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5134-the-chief-function-of-the-city-is-to/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Mumford, Lewis. “The chief function of the city is to convert power into form, energy into culture, dead matter into the living symbols of art, biological reproduction into social creativity.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5134-the-chief-function-of-the-city-is-to/.