"Wherefore the mere practical architect is not able to assign sufficient reasons for the forms he adopts; and the theoretic architect also fails, grasping the shadow instead of the substance"
- Marcus V. Pollio
About this Quote
This quote by Marcus V. Pollio is referring to the difficulty of offering a rational explanation for the kinds embraced by designers. The practical architect is unable to supply adequate reasons for the kinds they embrace, as they are limited to the useful considerations of the task. The logical architect likewise stops working, as they are not able to offer a reasonable explanation for the types they adopt, rather comprehending the shadow rather of the compound. This suggests that the forms embraced by architects are often based on intuition and experience, rather than logical idea. This quote highlights the difficulty of providing a rational description for the types embraced by architects, and recommends that the forms embraced are often based on intuition and experience.
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"An architect should live as little in cities as a painter. Send him to our hills, and let him study there what nature understands by a buttress, and what by a dome"
