--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not an individual act…" description: "\"It is not an individual act, architecture. You have to consider your client. Only out of that can you produce great architecture. You cannot work in th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/i-m-pei-21076_abstract_it-is-not-an-individual-act-architecture_2196568.png" --- # It is not an individual act, architecture. You have to… ![“It is not an individual act, architecture. You have to consider your client. Only out of that can you produce great architecture. You cannot work in the abstract” quote by I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/i-m-pei-21076_abstract_it-is-not-an-individual-act-architecture_2196568.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/i-m-pei-21076_abstract_it-is-not-an-individual-act-architecture_2196568.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/i-m-pei-21076_abstract_it-is-not-an-individual-act-architecture_2196568.png) > “It is not an individual act, architecture. You have to consider your client. Only out of that can you produce great architecture. You cannot work in the abstract” [I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great architecture emerges from understanding client needs, not abstract ideas alone. **In simple terms:** Design must serve people, not just concepts. Key Takeaway Prioritize client collaboration. Themes design client focus collaboration architecture Mood practical collaborative Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - project planning - client meetings - design revisions - team workshops Key Concepts human-centered design functional aesthetics communication Questions to Reflect On - What client needs are you overlooking? - How can you integrate feedback without compromising vision? A Different Perspective Ignoring client input can lead to impractical designs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) ## Related quotes > [Architecture is the constant fight between man and nature, the fight to overwhelm nature, to possess it. The first act of architecture is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/architecture-is-the-constant-fight-between-man-and-nature-the-fight/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [“The individual act of will is the strongest, most transcendent part of us. To look upon something with our deepest overriding passions, whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-carpenter/the-individual-act-of-will-is-the-strongest-most-transcendent-part-of/) Amanda Carpenter > [Architecture is my work, and Ive spent my whole life at a drawing board, but life is more important than architecture. What matters is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/architecture-is-my-work-and-ive-spent-my-whole-life-at-a-drawing/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [The content could be done anyplace, but the real invention is the architecture. The architecture is the only work that really defines a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miuccia-prada/the-content-could-be-done-anyplace-but-the-real-invention-is-the/) [Miuccia Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miuccia-prada/) > [Architecture is the work of nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/architecture-is-the-work-of-nations/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I search for surprise in my architecture. A work of art should cause the emotion of newness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/i-search-for-surprise-in-my-architecture-a-work-of-art-should-cause/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [Architecture is my work, and I've spent my whole life at a drawing board, but life is more important than architecture. What matters is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/architecture-is-my-work-and-i-ve-spent-my-whole-life-at-a-drawing/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [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/) > [Some men can be very rude. On the other hand, some clients are absolute angels. One john always brought me a gift every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-sprinkle/some-men-can-be-very-rude-on-the-other-hand-some-clients-are-absolute/) [Annie Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-sprinkle/) > [It is the client who knows what hurts, what directions to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/it-is-the-client-who-knows-what-hurts-what-directions-to-go-what/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [I want my clients to trust me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-goreski/i-want-my-clients-to-trust-me/) [Brad Goreski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-goreski/) > [“Clients steer the ship in the sea of business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/clients-steer-the-ship-in-the-sea-of-business/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [I hear a lot of 'Top Model' girls say they are dismissed by clients because they recognize them, but it never happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-siad/i-hear-a-lot-of-top-model-girls-say-they-are-dismissed-by-clients/) [Fatima Siad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-siad/) > [My Client Brock Lesnar conquered the Undertakers Undefeated Streak at Wrestlemania](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-heyman/my-client-brock-lesnar-conquered-the-undertakers-undefeated-streak-at/) [Paul Heyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-heyman/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) ## 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/) [Explore all 30 I. M. Pei quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) Anthony W. Ivins > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. Stuck in a prison of abstract ideas and overpowering emotions, I have this personality that makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuo-kirino/i-m-this-superphilosophical-kind-of-person-stuck-in-a-prison-of/) [Natsuo Kirino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuo-kirino/) > [Future lawyers should be more aware that law is not a system of abstract logic, but the web of arrangements, rooted in history but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/future-lawyers-should-be-more-aware-that-law-is-not-a-system-of/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Painting is... a richer language than words... 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