The third order, called Corinthian, is an imitation of the slenderness of a maiden; for the outlines and limbs of maidens, being more slender on account of their tender years, admit of prettier effects in the way of adornment.

There are also kinds of water that cause death, as they run through harmful juices in the soil and become poisonous.

It was a wise and useful provision of the ancients to transmit their thoughts to posterity by recording them in treatises, so that they should not be lost, but, being developed in succeeding generations through publications in books, should gradually attain in later times, to the highest refinement of learning.

The [engineer] should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that all work done by the other arts is put to test. This knowledge is the child of practice and theory.

Cold winds are disagreeable, hot winds enervating, moist winds unhealthy.

There will be no propriety in the spectacle of an elegant interior approached by a low mean entrance.

A harmonious design requires that nothing be added or taken away.