_Lead-Image
[Image source: Facades Confidential]

Inspirational quotes are a well-tread territory online. Architects, designers, and all sorts of creatives get that much needed jolt of inspiration from the words of their heroes. In this installation, we’re targeting a specific genre of quotable quotes: Quotes by engineers or in reverence of engineering. It’s truly the backbone of good design, and we felt it deserved time in the spotlight. Here are a few of our favorites. Let us know some of yours in the comments below.

Quote OpenSome say the cup is half empty, while others say it is half full. However, in my opinion both are wrong. The real problem is the cup is too big.

Donald P. Coduto, Professor

Balmond_Installation
[Image source: Cosmopolitan Scum]

Quote OpenKnowing there is a structure, hidden or felt, to the random gives pleasure.

Cecil Balmond, Engineer

Antupit_Esquire
[Image source: AIGA]

Quote OpenIf the bones don’t work, you’ve got a pile of skin.

Samuel Antupit, Art Director

Quote OpenThe engineer’s first problem in any design situation is to discover what the problem really is.

Unknown

Arup_Sydney-1
[Image source: Facades Confidential]

Quote OpenEngineering problems are under-defined, there are many solutions, good, bad and indifferent. The art is to arrive at a good solution. This is a creative activity, involving imagination, intuition and deliberate choice.

Ove Arup, Engineer

Rice_museum
[Image source: Blue Crab Yo Yo]

Quote OpenGradually people come to you to buy surprise and the thing that’s nicest about it is that when people come to buy surprise, I have no idea of what I’m going to give them either.

Peter Rice, Engineer

Quote OpenYou can’t push a rope.

Ken Carper, Professor

Bucky_Whiteney-Tower
[Image source: Tom McGee]

Quote OpenYou never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.

Buckminster Fuller, Architect

Maya_Lin
[Image source: Indigos]

Quote OpenTo fly, we have to have resistance.

Maya Lin, Artist

Cheers from Team BUILD