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Philip Johnson

Philip Johnson Quotes

Architect

Philip Johnson (July 8, 1906 - January 25, 2005) was an American architect known for his modernist style and the use of glass and metal. His architectural works, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Lincoln Center, have had a profound impact on 20th-century architecture.

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Famous Philip Johnson Quotes

“Pick very few objects and place them exactly.”

Author:Philip Johnson

“The practice of architecture is the most delightful of all pursuits. Also, next to agriculture, it is the most necessary to man. One must eat, one must have shelter. Next to religious worship itself, it is the spiritual handmaiden of our deepest convictions.”

Men Inspiration Spiritual Next Religious Practice Worship Conviction Architecture Pursuit Shelter Agriculture Delightful

Book:The Pritzker Architecture Prize, 1979: Presented to Philip Johnson

Source: The Pritzker Architecture Prize, 1979: Presented to Philip Johnson

“When a building is as good as that one, f#*@ the art.”

Art Building Architecture

Author:Philip Johnson

“The first complete sentence out of my mouth was probably that line about consistency being the hobgoblin of small minds.”

Mind Firsts Lines Mouths Sentences Consistency Small Minds

Author:Philip Johnson

“We do pretty much whatever we want to.”

Author:Philip Johnson

“Doing a house is so much harder than doing a skyscraper.”

House Harder Skyscraper

Author:Philip Johnson

“Don't build a glass house if you're worried about saving money on heating.”

Ifs House Glasses Saving Worried Saving Money Heating Glass Houses

Author:Philip Johnson

“I wouldn't build a building if it wasn't of interest to me as a potential work of art. Why should I?”

Ifs Should Art Interest Building Works Of Art Should I

Author:Philip Johnson

“Concrete you can mold, you can press it into - after all, you haven't any straight lines in your body. Why should we have straight lines in our architecture? You'd be surprised when you go into a room that has no straight line - how marvelous it is that you can feel the walls talking back to you, as it were.”

Feels Should Body Lines Rooms Talking Havens Wall Presses Architecture Your Body Concrete Marvelous Mold Straight Lines Talking Back

Author:Philip Johnson

“Faith? Haven't any. I'm not a nihilist or a relativist. I don't believe in anything but change. I'm a Heraclitean - you can't step in the same river twice.”

Believe Steps Havens Rivers Don't Believe Nihilist

Author:Philip Johnson

“It is wonderful to be in the country in a glass house, because no matter what happens out there, you're nice and safe, you know, cuddled in your little bed, and there it is, raging storms, snowing - wonderful.”

Knows Littles Country Matter Happens House Nice Wonderful Bed Safe No Matter What Glasses Storm Rage Snow Glass Houses

Author:Philip Johnson

About the Author

Born: July 8, 1906
Died: January 25, 2005
Known for: Architect
Quotes: 61

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Architecture Building Architect Ifs Scary Art People House Knows Space

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People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

The Pritzker Architecture Prize, 1979: Presented to Philip JohnsonRelated source material

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