--- title: "1 Past Years Quotes By I. M. Pei" description: "1 Past Years quotes by I. M. Pei. Plus more from I. M. Pei and more Past Years sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/i-m-pei-21076_enough_i-haven-t-taken-any-new-projects-in-the_1810985.png" --- > [I haven't taken any new projects in the past years - I told myself, if I cannot live long enough to finish it, I don't want it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/i-haven-t-taken-any-new-projects-in-the-past-years-i-told-myself-if-i/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/i-m-pei-21076_enough_i-haven-t-taken-any-new-projects-in-the_1810985.png) ## More by I. M. Pei > [My projects have typically taken a long time to complete. Buildings might take on average about five to seven years to finish, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/my-projects-have-typically-taken-a-long-time-to-complete-buildings/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [ When I got the opportunity to do the new wing \[the Schauhaus\] for the German Historical Museum, for instance, I didn't see it as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/when-i-got-the-opportunity-to-do-the-new-wing-the-schauhaus-for-the/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/i-believe-that-architecture-is-a-pragmatic-art-to-become-art-it-must/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [Let's do it right. This is for the ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/let-s-do-it-right-this-is-for-the-ages/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [Qatar does not have much history, it's a new emirate. So I couldn't draw on the history of the country; its history is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/qatar-does-not-have-much-history-it-s-a-new-emirate-so-i-couldn-t/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [I didn't want to think about a project that I couldn't finish. That's a kind of temptation. One has to realize one's limitations. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/i-didn-t-want-to-think-about-a-project-that-i-couldn-t-finish-that-s/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [Contemporary architects tend to impose modernity on something. There is a certain concern for history but it’s not very deep. I understand that time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/contemporary-architects-tend-to-impose-modernity-on-something-there/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [You cannot defend your design without knowing what you're designing for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/you-cannot-defend-your-design-without-knowing-what-you-re-designing/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [I was born in Suzhou, a city not very far from Shanghai. It's a very interesting town - there is a long artist's tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/i-was-born-in-suzhou-a-city-not-very-far-from-shanghai-it-s-a-very/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [Architecture is the very mirror of life.You only have to cast your eyes on buildings to feel the presence of the past, the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/architecture-is-the-very-mirror-of-life-you-only-have-to-cast-your/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [Great artists need great clients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/great-artists-need-great-clients/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [I've been active all my life. In 1990 I retired from my firm, I.M. Pei & Partners, and for two years I didn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/i-ve-been-active-all-my-life-in-1990-i-retired-from-my-firm-i-m-pei/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [At home, I have a wife, fortunately, and my children are all grown, and I have many grandchildren. I spend weekends with my grandchildren;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/at-home-i-have-a-wife-fortunately-and-my-children-are-all-grown-and-i/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [I haven't taken any new projects in the past years - I told myself, if I cannot live long enough to finish it, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/i-haven-t-taken-any-new-projects-in-the-past-years-i-told-myself-if-i/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) > [Success is a collection of problems solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-pei/success-is-a-collection-of-problems-solved/) [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-years/i-m-pei/#itemlist", "name": "1 Past Years Quotes By I. M. Pei", "numberOfItems": 1, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I haven't taken any new projects in the past years - I told myself, if I cannot live long enough to finish it, I don't want it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "I. M. 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