Isambard Kingdom Brunel Professions : Civil engineer Born : April 9, 1806 Died : September 15, 1859 Browse All Authors Top 5 quotes by Isambard Kingdom Brunel I am opposed to the laying down of rules or conditions to be observed in the construction of bridges lest the progress of improvement tomorrow might be embarrassed or shackled by recording or registering as law the prejudices or errors of today. Isambard Kingdom Brunel engineering errors science I am going to design, in a great hurry, and I believe to build a station after my own fancy; that is, with engineering roofs, etc. etc. It is at Paddington, in cutting, and admitting of no exterior, all interior and all roofed in. Isambard Kingdom Brunel engineering fancy design If we must have heroes and wars whereinto make them, there is no war so brilliant as a war with the wrong, no hero so fit to be sung, as he who has gained the bloodless VICTORY of truth and mercy. Isambard Kingdom Brunel truth hero war That is very fine; but it is impossible to make the men perfect; the men will always remain the same as they are now; and no legislation will make a man have more presence of mind, or, I believe, make him more cautious; and besides that, the next time such an accident occurs, the circumstances will be so different, that the instructions given to the men, in consequence of the former accident, will not apply. Isambard Kingdom Brunel presence-of-mind men believe If the Commission is to enquire into the conditions "to be observed," it is to be presumed that they will give the result of their enquiries; or, in other words, that they will lay down, or at least suggest, "rules" and "conditions to be (hereafter) observed" in the construction of bridges, or, in other words, embarrass and shackle the progress of improvement to-morrow by recording and registering as law the prejudices or errors of to-day. [Objecting to any interference by the State with the freedom of civil engineers in the conduct of their professional work.] Isambard Kingdom Brunel errors bridges law Similar Authors Arthur M. Wellington civil-engineer Arthur Alfred Lynch civil-engineer Bernard Lietaer civil-engineer Henry Petroski civil-engineer Gustave Eiffel civil-engineer George Washington Goethals civil-engineer All Authors