Vitruvius
Vitruvius
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, commonly known as Vitruvius, was a Roman author, architect, civil engineer and military engineer during the 1st century BC, known for his multi-volume work entitled De architectura...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionAuthor
armed men sufficient
The thickness of the walls should be sufficient for two armed men to pass each other with ease.
abundance contented fortune rather sought wealth
But I, Caesar, have not sought to amass wealth by the practice of my art, having been rather contented with a small fortune and reputation, than desirous of abundance accompanied by a want of reputation.
alliance appear branches close explain man retain variety
Perhaps, to the uninformed, it may appear unaccountable that a man should be able to retain in his memory such a variety of learning; but the close alliance with each other, of the different branches of science, will explain the difficulty.
adorned architecture arising formed judgment result science varied works
Architecture is a science arising out of many other sciences, and adorned with much and varied learning; by the help of which a judgment is formed of those works which are the result of other arts.
bodies contain greater necessary proportion speedily virtues
Bodies which contain a greater proportion of water than is necessary to balance the other elements, are speedily corrupted, and lose their virtues and properties.
neither properly
Quicksilver is used for many purposes; without it, neither silver nor brass can be properly gilt.
above appear object placed
For an object under the eye will appear very different from the same object placed above it; in an inclosed space, very different from the same in an open space.
floating whose
Wind is a floating wave of air, whose undulation continually varies.
agreeable agreement parts proportion regular result several
Proportion is that agreeable harmony between the several parts of a building, which is the result of a just and regular agreement of them with each other; the height to the width, this to the length, and each of these to the whole.
architecture due requires
Nothing requires the architect's care more than the due proportions of buildings.
arises consistency found whose work
Consistency is found in that work whose whole and detail are suitable to the occasion. It arises from circumstance, custom, and nature.
general parts scale
Dimension regulated the general scale of the work, so that the parts may all tell and be effective.
appearance beauty dimensions good parts pleasing produced taste
Beauty is produced by the pleasing appearance and good taste of the whole, and by the dimensions of all the parts being duly proportioned to each other.