Gustave Eiffel Professions : Civil engineer Born : December 15, 1832 Died : December 27, 1923 Browse All Authors Top 8 quotes by Gustave Eiffel Can one think that because we are engineers, beauty does not preoccupy us or that we do not try to build beautiful, as well as solid and long lasting structures? Aren't the genuine functions of strength always in keeping with unwritten conditions of harmony? ... Besides, there is an attraction, a special charm in the colossal to which ordinary theories of art do not apply. Gustave Eiffel beautiful science art The first principle of architectural beauty is that the essential lines of a construction be determined by a perfect appropriateness to its use. Gustave Eiffel engineering perfect science There is an attraction and a charm inherent in the colossal that is not subject to ordinary theories of art ... The tower will be the tallest edifice ever raised by man. Will it therefore be imposing in its own way? Gustave Eiffel men science art Being the most striking manifestation of the art of metal structures by which our engineers have shown in Europe, it [the Eiffel Tower] is one of the most striking of our modern national genius. Gustave Eiffel europe science art The fundamental idea of these pylons, or great archways, is based on a method of construction peculiar to me, of which the principle consists in giving to the edges of the pyramid a curve of such a nature that this pyramid shall be capable of resisting the force of the wind without necessitating the junction of the edges by diagonals as is usually done. Gustave Eiffel curves wind science The French flag is the only one to have a staff a thousand feet tall. Gustave Eiffel staff flags feet Ah, bien je prétends que les courbes des quatre areêtes du monument, telles que le calcul les a fournies, donneront une grand impression de force et de beauté. Gustave Eiffel engineering curves thinking It seems to me that it had no other rationale than to show that we are not simply the country of entertainers, but also that of engineers and builders called from across the world to build bridges, viaducts, stations and major monuments of modern industry, the Eiffel Tower deserves to be treated with consideration. Gustave Eiffel bridges science country Similar Authors Arthur M. Wellington civil-engineer Arthur Alfred Lynch civil-engineer Bernard Lietaer civil-engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel civil-engineer Henry Petroski civil-engineer George Washington Goethals civil-engineer All Authors
