Beauty or beast, the modern skyscraper is a major force with a strong magnetic field. It draws into its physical being all of the factors that propel and characterize modern civilization. The skyscraper is the point where art and the city meet.

Surrogate experience and surrogate environments have become the American way of life. Distinctions are no longer made, or deemed necessary, between the real and the false; the edge usually goes to the latter, as an improved version with defects corrected - accessible and user-friendly.

Symbol and metaphor are as much a part of the architectural vocabulary as stone and steel.

Only a Californian would have observed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the real fake from the fake fake.

Embellishment is an irresistible and consuming impulse, going back to the beginnings of human history. ... Probably the strongest motivating force is the simplest: the inability of almost everyone to ever leave well enough alone.

It is the rare architect who does not hope in his heart to design a great building and for whom the quest is not a quiet, consuming passion.

No matter what an architect may be at home, he becomes a monumentalist when he comes to Washington.