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From everything that man erects and builds in his urge for living nothing is in my eyes better and more valuable than bridges. They are more important than houses, more sacred than shrines. Belonging to everyone and being equal to everyone, useful, always built with a sense, on the spot where most human needs are crossing, they are more durable than other buildings and they do not serve for anything secret or bad.

Ivo Andric#1

ArchitectureCommunityConnectionPublicUtilityValue

About this quote

What does it mean?
Andric praises bridges as more valuable than homes or shrines because they connect people and serve shared needs.
In plain terms
Bridges are sacred because they connect people and meet needs.
What can you take from it?
Value things that connect people.

Where it applies

  • planning infrastructure
  • valuing community

Putting it to work

  • building connections
  • designing for public good

Questions to consider

  • What connects your community?
  • What is truly sacred?

Another view

It romanticizes infrastructure over immediate shelter or worship.

More from Ivo Andric

  1. If people would know how little brain is ruling the world, they would die of fear.

    Permalink to quote #2
  2. One shouldn't be afraid of the humans. Well, I am not afraid of the humans, but of what is inhuman in them.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. What can and doesn't have to be always, at the end, surrenders to something that has to be.

    Permalink to quote #4

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