Bounds Quote by Arthur Erickson
“Roman civilization had achieved, within the bounds of its technology, relatively as great a mastery of time and space as we have achieved today.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Urban Planning, 1995
The quote compares past and present technological mastery, noting that ancient Rome matched modern capabilities within its own limits.
In simple terms: Rome’s achievements were as impressive as today’s, given their era.
Recognize past ingenuity when evaluating progress.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- architecture education
- city planning
- historical research
- technology development
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can ancient engineering inspire modern solutions?
- What limits define today’s “mastery” of time and space?
Modern tech surpasses past limits, but past mastery still informs current design.