Quotations Weblog

Quotes of the Week: Frank Lloyd Wright

June 7th, 1998 by Laura Moncur in Biography

I think of Howard Roarke when I think of Frank Lloyd Wright. I realize that shouldn’t be the case, but the fictional character of Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead and the real life architect are one in my mind. A young Frank Lloyd Wright looks like Gary Cooper to me, strong and slightly shy. Yet, after re-reading the introduction to the novel, Ayn mentions nothing of Frank Lloyd Wright. It would seem that this man represent the archetype of architect. In fact, I can’t mention another architect by name.

Come join me in the world of Frank Lloyd Wright, who had much to say about everything. Read his quotes and browse the sites mentioned.

Introduction and quote compilation by Laura S. Moncur, Staff Writer.

“Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.”
Quoted in his obituary, April 9, 1959

“Noble life demands a noble architecture for noble uses of noble men. Lack of culture means what it has always meant: ignoble civilization and therefore imminent downfall.”

“Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles.”

“If it [automation] keeps up, man will atrophy all his limbs but the push-button finger.”
The New York Times, November 27, 1955
I guess he couldn’t predict the fitness craze of the 1980′s, but he did predict the couch potato.

“Television: Chewing gum for the eyes.”

“An idea is salvation by imagination.”

“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.”
Attribute

“No house should ever be on any hill or on anything. It should be of the hill, belonging to it, so hill and house could live together each the happier for the other.”
An Autobiography, 1932

“The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.”

“I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.”

“The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his client to plant vines – so they should go as far as possible from home to build their first buildings.”
New York Times Magazine, October 4, 1953

Featured Books
The following books and tapes are available through Amazon.com:
  • About Wright : An Album of Recollections by Those Who Knew Frank Lloyd Wright Paperback by Edgar, F.A.I.A. Tafel (Editor) – A collection of remembrances from clients, draftsmen, relatives and acquaintances. Includes many previously unpublished photographs.
  • The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Hardcover by Neil Levine, Frank Lloyd Wright – A beautiful book that uses the architect’s drawings and notes to tell the story of his life. “This book will move your soul and influence your mind, and I strongly recommend its acquisition.”
  • Frank Lloyd Wright : A Biography Paperback by Meryle Secrest – The story of the life of the famous architect. Written with the help of Wright’s letters, drawings and books.
  • Murder in Perspective : An Architectural Mystery Hardcover by Keith Miles – A fictional novel based in 1928. The hero, Merlin Richards, gives up his promising career to work under Frank Lloyd Wright. Snubbed by the architect, he soon finds himself involved with the death of an attractive designer. This amateur detective novel should please Frank Lloyd Wright fans and mystery fans alike.
  • The Fountainhead Paperback by Ayn Rand – Howard Roarke, revolutionary architect, is put on trial for the destruction of one of his own buildings. Did he have the right to blow his own creation to smithereens? You decide.
  • The Fountainhead VHS Video Tape with Gary Cooper as Howard Roarke – See the movie version of Ayn Rand’s book. My favorite scene is where Roarke makes the ghastly changes to his building in mockery of the recommendations of the contractor.

For more information about Frank Lloyd Wright, try these links:

  • Frank Lloyd Wright Quotes – A small but well organized collection of quotations from Frank Lloyd Wright. There are no attributes, but the site is well designed.

  • The Frank Lloyd Wright Source Page – A simple page with reviews of the links that it highlights. A better guide than Yahoo, and it includes pictures.

  • Frank Lloyd Wright – Designs for an American Landscape, 1922-1932 – exhibit featured at the the Library of Congress.

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