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
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.
general parts scale
Dimension regulated the general scale of the work, so that the parts may all tell and be effective.
architecture due requires
Nothing requires the architect's care more than the due proportions of buildings.
neither properly
Quicksilver is used for many purposes; without it, neither silver nor brass can be properly gilt.
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.
ability according afforded care consists due economy employer means proper situation taken
Economy consists in a due and proper application of the means afforded according to the ability of the employer and the situation chosen; care being taken that the expenditure is prudently conducted.
annoyed enemy exterior face towers wall
From the exterior face of the wall towers must be projected, from which an approaching enemy may be annoyed by weapons, from the embrasures of those towers, right and left.
architect assign forms instead mere practical sufficient
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.
citizens concise constant few inclined moreover occupation private public reflect
I am moreover inclined to be concise when I reflect on the constant occupation of the citizens in public and private affairs, so that in their few leisure moments they may read and understand as much as possible.
among benefits entitled honour indebted numbered palms public writers
Since, therefore, individuals as well as the public are so indebted to these writers for the benefits they enjoy, I think them not only entitled to the honour of palms and crowns, but even to be numbered among the gods.