Clay Quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
“Water from clay pipes is much more wholesome than that which is conducted through lead pipes, because lead is found to be harmful for the reason that white lead is derived from it, and this is said to be hurtful to the human system.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: De Architectura, Book II, 1st century BC
Lead pipes contaminate water and harm health, while clay pipes provide safer drinking water.
In simple terms: Lead is harmful; clay is safer.
Key Takeaway
Prefer clay pipes for drinking water.
Themes
public health
materials
infrastructure
Mood
concerned
informative
Type
historical
practical
When to use this quote
- municipal water systems
- building construction
- public policy
- historical health advice
Key Concepts
toxicology
ancient engineering
Questions to Reflect On
- How do current regulations address lead in water?
- What materials are best for safe drinking water today?
A Different Perspective
Modern water treatment methods mitigate lead risks, reducing relevance of ancient material advice.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
![“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.” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afa/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_art_the-engineer-should-be-equipped-with-kno_386834.jpg)
![“All these soft kinds [of stone] have the advantage that they can be easily worked as soon as they have been taken from the quarries. Under cover, they play their part well; but in open and exposed situations the frost and rime make them crumble, and they go to pieces. On the seacoast, too, the…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/541/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_all-these-soft-kinds-of-stone-have-the-a_406721.jpg)
