--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems to me that it had no other…" description: "\"It seems to me that it had no other rationale than to show that we are not simply the country of entertainers, but also that of engineers and builders ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/gustave-eiffel-40993_bridges_it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rati_1800598.jpg" --- # It seems to me that it had no other rationale than to show… ![“It seems to me that it had no other rationale than to show that we are not simply the country of entertainers, but also that of engineers and builders called from across the world to build bridges, viaducts, stations and major monuments of modern industry, the Eiffel Tower deserves to be treated…” quote by Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/gustave-eiffel-40993_bridges_it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rati_1800598.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/gustave-eiffel-40993_bridges_it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rati_1800598.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/gustave-eiffel-40993_bridges_it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rati_1800598.jpg) > “It seems to me that it had no other rationale than to show that we are not simply the country of entertainers, but also that of engineers and builders called from across the world to build bridges, viaducts, stations and major monuments of modern industry, the Eiffel Tower deserves to be treated with consideration.” [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Celebrates engineering achievements alongside cultural ones, urging respect for iconic structures. **In simple terms:** Engineers and artists both shape civilization. Key Takeaway Value both technical and artistic contributions. Themes engineering culture legacy Mood proud inspirational Type historical motivational When to use this quote - urban planning - tourism - education - heritage preservation Key Concepts industrialization national identity monumentality Questions to Reflect On - What role should engineers play in society? - How do we balance art and function? A Different Perspective Technical feats can be politicized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Builder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/builder/) [Builders Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/builders-called-2026956/) [Consideration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consideration/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) [Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eiffel/) [Eiffel tower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eiffel-tower/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Entertainers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainers/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Industry Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry-eiffel-2026955/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Monument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monument/) [Rationale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationale/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Stations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stations/) [Tower Deserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tower-deserves-2026954/) [Towers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towers/) [Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [ Being the most striking manifestation of the art of metal structures by which our engineers have shown in Europe, it \[the Eiffel Tower\] is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/being-the-most-striking-manifestation-of-the-art-of-metal-structures/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) > [I like the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas more than the actual one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/i-like-the-eiffel-tower-in-las-vegas-more-than-the-actual-one/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [Now you can leave home at any time you like.Your mother comes down and finds a picture of the Eiffel Tower on her plate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/now-you-can-leave-home-at-any-time-you-like-your-mother-comes-down/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [In 1980, business at my company, Chuck E. Cheese's, was thriving and I was feeling flush. So I bought a very large house on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/in-1980-business-at-my-company-chuck-e-cheese-s-was-thriving-and-i/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [Let's say I take a picture of the Eiffel Tower in front of the casino in Las Vegas. That type of pattern might suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-rossmo/let-s-say-i-take-a-picture-of-the-eiffel-tower-in-front-of-the-casino/) [Kim Rossmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-rossmo/) > [I don't like being up high. It took me three days to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-don-t-like-being-up-high-it-took-me-three-days-to-get-to-the-top-of/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Statues and children frame the Eiffel Tower and its watery image. When the Germans occupied Paris, they housed a beacon light in the Tower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-owen-williams/statues-and-children-frame-the-eiffel-tower-and-its-watery-image-when/) [Maynard Owen Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-owen-williams/) > [My lifetime’s memories are what I have brought home from the trip. I will require them for eternity no more than that little souvenir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/my-lifetime-s-memories-are-what-i-have-brought-home-from-the-trip-i/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [What is the difference between the Eiffel Tower and you? The Eiffel Tower is in Paris, you are in my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-the-difference-between-the-eiffel-tower-and-you-the-eiffel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Britain is obviously one of the world powers and they bombed the World Trade Centre, which is a landmark in itself, and over in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-kearns/britain-is-obviously-one-of-the-world-powers-and-they-bombed-the/) [Robbie Kearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-kearns/) > [Although the French were very friendly and helpful. On one location we were to film at the top of the Eiffel Tower but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalla-ward/although-the-french-were-very-friendly-and-helpful-on-one-location-we/) [Lalla Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalla-ward/) > [I met this wonderful guy who owned an old pub near the Eiffel Tower called Malone's (he's French but it's an Irish name). He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/i-met-this-wonderful-guy-who-owned-an-old-pub-near-the-eiffel-tower/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [“But Paris, all in all, isn't what it used o be, ever since that pencil sharpener, the Eiffel Tower, has been sticking up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/but-paris-all-in-all-isn-t-what-it-used-o-be-ever-since-that-pencil/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“When Hitler marched across the Rhine To take the land of France, La dame de fer decided, ‘Let’s make the tyrant dance.’ Let him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/when-hitler-marched-across-the-rhine-to-take-the-land-of-france-la/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [One of the tours we had scheduled - the gaslight tour of Jack the Ripper's haunts, and on Halloween, no less, was canceled at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-phillips/one-of-the-tours-we-had-scheduled-the-gaslight-tour-of-jack-the/) [Andrea Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-phillips/) ## More by Gustave Eiffel > [“Étant la plus saisissante manifestation de l'art des constructions métalliques par lesquelles nos ingénieurs se sont illustrés en Europe, elle est une des formes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/tant-la-plus-saisissante-manifestation-de-l-art-des-constructions-m/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) > [ Being the most striking manifestation of the art of metal structures by which our engineers have shown in Europe, it \[the Eiffel Tower\] is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/being-the-most-striking-manifestation-of-the-art-of-metal-structures/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) > [The first principle of architectural beauty is that the essential lines of a construction be determined by a perfect appropriateness to its use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/the-first-principle-of-architectural-beauty-is-that-the-essential/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) > [Ah, bien je prétends que les courbes des quatre areêtes du monument, telles que le calcul les a fournies, donneront une grand impression de…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/ah-bien-je-pr-tends-que-les-courbes-des-quatre-are-tes-du-monument/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) > [There is an attraction and a charm inherent in the colossal that is not subject to ordinary theories of art ... The tower will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/there-is-an-attraction-and-a-charm-inherent-in-the-colossal-that-is/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) > [The fundamental idea of these pylons, or great archways, is based on a method of construction peculiar to me, of which the principle consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/the-fundamental-idea-of-these-pylons-or-great-archways-is-based-on-a/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) > [Can one think that because we are engineers, beauty does not preoccupy us or that we do not try to build beautiful, as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/can-one-think-that-because-we-are-engineers-beauty-does-not-preoccupy/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) > [“I ought to be jealous of the tower. She is more famous than I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/i-ought-to-be-jealous-of-the-tower-she-is-more-famous-than-i-am/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) > [The French flag is the only one to have a staff a thousand feet tall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/the-french-flag-is-the-only-one-to-have-a-staff-a-thousand-feet-tall/) [Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) [Explore all 10 Gustave Eiffel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/) ## More Bridges quotes > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you walk, try to think nothing! You can then obtain the silence of a streetlight or a bridge; stop thinking; after that, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-walk-try-to-think-nothing-you-can-then-obtain-the-silence-of/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [Al Pacino and Jeff Bridges do it for me in a big way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/al-pacino-and-jeff-bridges-do-it-for-me-in-a-big-way/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [Instead of building castles against your enemies, build bridges for them to come to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/instead-of-building-castles-against-your-enemies-build-bridges-for/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Each person is an island unto himself, in a very real sense; and he can only build bridges to other islands if he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/each-person-is-an-island-unto-himself-in-a-very-real-sense-and-he-can/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [The law ... allows rich as well as poor to sleep under bridges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-law-allows-rich-as-well-as-poor-to-sleep-under-bridges/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [Guys like Todd Bridges never overcame being a child star. You can't have any big failures. I've always felt regular. I played organized ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/guys-like-todd-bridges-never-overcame-being-a-child-star-you-can-t/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) [Browse all 1,521 Bridges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It seems to me that it had no other rationale than to show that we are not simply the country of entertainers, but also that of engineers and builders called from across the world to build bridges, viaducts, stations and major monuments of modern industry, the Eiffel Tower deserves to be treated with consideration.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gustave Eiffel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rationale-than-to-show-that-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bridges" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rationale-than-to-show-that-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/gustave-eiffel-40993_bridges_it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rati_1800598.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/gustave-eiffel-40993_bridges_it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rati_1800598.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/gustave-eiffel-40993_bridges_it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rati_1800598.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It seems to me that it had no other rationale than to show that we are not simply the country of…” — Gustave Eiffel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gustave Eiffel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-eiffel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It seems to me that it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rationale-than-to-show-that-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-eiffel/it-seems-to-me-that-it-had-no-other-rationale-than-to-show-that-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```