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Quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

“It is no secret that the moon has no light of her own, but is, as it were, a mirror, receiving brightness from the influence of the sun.”

Quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Author

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, a renowned Roman architect, engineer, and writer, lived from 81 BC to 15 AD. He is considered one of the founders of Roman architecture and is best known for his work 'De Architectura', which has had a profound impact on the development of architecture throughout history. more

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“The difference between "machines" and "engines" is obviously this, that machines need more workmen and greater power to make them take effect, as for instance ballistae and the beams of presses. Engines, on the other hand, accomplish their purpose at the intelligent touch of a single workman...”

Needs Hands Purpose Differences Greater Effects Machines Intelligent Presses Accomplish Instance Engines Beam Workmen Greater Power

Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

“Geometry is of much assistance in architecture, and in particular it teaches us the use of the rule and compasses, by which especially we acquire readiness in making plans for buildings in their grounds, and rightly apply the square, the level, and the plummet. By means of optics the light in buildings can be drawn from fixed quarters of the sky. Difficult questions involving symmetry are solved by means of geometrical theories and methods.”

“As for philosophy, it makes an architect high-minded and not self-assuming, but rather renders him courteous, just, and honest without avariciousness. This is very important, for no work can be rightly done without honesty and incorruptibility.”

Important Self Done Philosophy Honest Honesty Assuming Architect Courteous

Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

“Astronomers have a common ground for discussion with musicians in the harmony of the stars and musical concords in tetrads and triads of the fourth and the fifth, and with geometricians in the subject of vision; and in all other sciences many points, perhaps all, are common so far as the discussion of them is concerned. But the actual undertaking of works which are brought to perfection by the hand and its manipulation is the function of those who have been specially trained to deal with a single art.”

“The construction of temples of the Ionic order to Juno, Diana, Father Bacchus, and the other gods of that kind, will be in keeping with the middle position which they hold; for the building of such will be an appropriate combination of the severity of the Doric and the delicacy of the Corinthian.”

Kind Order Father Middle Position Building Combination Appropriate Temples Construction Delicacy Diana Severity Bacchus Corinthians

Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

“There will be no propriety in the spectacle of an elegant interior approached by a low mean entrance.”

Mean Lows Interiors Elegant Entrances Propriety

Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

“Our ancestors, when about to build a town or an army post, sacrificed some of the cattle that were wont to feed on the site proposed and examined their livers. If the livers of the first victims were dark-coloured or abnormal, they sacrificed others, to see whether the fault was due to disease or their food. They never began to build defensive works in a place until after they had made many such trials and satisfied themselves that good water and food had made the liver sound and firm, healthfulness being their chief object.”

Ifs Firsts Made Sound Water Dark Objects Disease Army Towns Victim Faults Dues Trials Satisfied Chiefs Posts Firm Ancestor Site Cattle Liver Abnormal

Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

“From food and water, then, we may learn whether sites are naturally unhealthy or healthy.”

May Water Healthy Site Unhealthy

Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

“Some have held that there are only four winds: Solanus from the east; Auster from the south; Favonius from due west; Septentrio from the north. But more careful investigators tell us that there are eight.”

Four Wind West South Careful Eight Dues East Investigators

Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

“Remembering that Eratosthenes of Cyrene, employing mathematical theories and geometrical methods, discovered from the course of the sun, the shadows cast by an equinoctial gnomon, and the inclination of the heaven that the circumference of the earth is two hundred and fifty-two thousand stadia, that is, thirty-one million five hundred thousand paces.”

Two Earth Remember Courses Heaven Millions Sun Five Theory Thousand Hundred Shadow Method Casts Mathematical Thirty Fifty Pace Inclination Employing

Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio