--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The larch... is not only preserved from…" description: "\"The larch... is not only preserved from decay and the worm by the great bitterness of its sap, but also it cannot be kindled with fire nor ignite of it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_air_the-larch-is-not-only-preserved-from-dec_2966412.png" --- # The larch... is not only preserved from decay and the worm… ![“The larch... is not only preserved from decay and the worm by the great bitterness of its sap, but also it cannot be kindled with fire nor ignite of itself, unless like stone in a limekiln it is burned with other wood... This is because there is a very small proportion of the elements of fire and…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_air_the-larch-is-not-only-preserved-from-dec_2966412.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_air_the-larch-is-not-only-preserved-from-dec_2966412.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_air_the-larch-is-not-only-preserved-from-dec_2966412.png) > “The larch... is not only preserved from decay and the worm by the great bitterness of its sap, but also it cannot be kindled with fire nor ignite of itself, unless like stone in a limekiln it is burned with other wood... This is because there is a very small proportion of the elements of fire and air in its composition, which is a dense and solid mass of moisture and the earthy, so that it has no open pores through which fire can find its way... Further, its weight will not let it float in water.” [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The larch’s sap makes it resistant to decay, fire, and water, because its dense, moist composition lacks pores and flammable elements. **In simple terms:** The larch is naturally resistant to rot, fire, and sinking. Key Takeaway Use materials suited to their environmental challenges. Themes resilience material science architecture natural properties Mood pragmatic analytical Type technical educational When to use this quote - building durable structures - selecting fire‑proof wood - designing flood‑resistant foundations Key Concepts botany physics engineering Questions to Reflect On - How can modern engineering improve on natural material limits? - What trade‑offs exist when choosing highly resistant woods? A Different Perspective Its resistance may be limited by extreme conditions or modern chemical treatments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Burned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burned/) [Burned Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burned-wood-4544265/) [Composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition/) [Decay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/) [Dense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dense/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Floats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floats/) [Ignite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignite/) [Larch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/larch-1679782/) [Larch Preserved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/larch-preserved-4544264/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Moisture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moisture/) [Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion/) [Sap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sap/) [Sap Kindled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sap-kindled-4544266/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) [Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wood/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/) [Worms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worms/) ## Related quotes > [ The leaves of these \[larch\] trees are like those of the pine; timber from them comes in long lengths, is as easily wrought in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/the-leaves-of-these-larch-trees-are-like-those-of-the-pine-timber/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Where did Gabriel get a lily, In the month of March, When the green Is hardly seen On the early larch?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-james/where-did-gabriel-get-a-lily-in-the-month-of-march-when-the-green-is/) [Grace James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-james/) > [While all bodies are composed of the four elements, that is, of heat, moisture, the earthy, and air, yet there are mixtures according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/while-all-bodies-are-composed-of-the-four-elements-that-is-of-heat/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Oak... lasts for an unlimited period when buried in underground structures... when exposed to moisture... it cannot take in liquid on account of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/oak-lasts-for-an-unlimited-period-when-buried-in-underground/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [The winter oak... is very useful in buildings but when in a moist place it takes in water to its centre... and so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/the-winter-oak-is-very-useful-in-buildings-but-when-in-a-moist-place/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Fir : it contains a great deal of air and fire with very little moisture and the earthy, so that, as its natural properties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/fir-it-contains-a-great-deal-of-air-and-fire-with-very-little/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Trees which grow in places facing the course of the sun are not of porous fiber but are solid, being drained by the dryness...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/trees-which-grow-in-places-facing-the-course-of-the-sun-are-not-of/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [“Watoto hupenda vitu vinavyong’aa ambavyo havijatulia na vilivyopangiliwa vizuri. Hivyo ndivyo macho ya binadamu yalivyo: yana unyevu na yanaakisi mwanga, hayajatulia, na yana rangi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/watoto-hupenda-vitu-vinavyong-aa-ambavyo-havijatulia-na/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [A voice hissed: "He sheds tears!" It was taken around the ring "Usal gives moisture to the dead!" He felt fingers touch his damp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/a-voice-hissed-he-sheds-tears-it-was-taken-around-the-ring-usal-gives/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [The seed, swollen with moisture, burst asunder its covering of soil and out peers the blade of wheat, full of symbols. So faith, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/the-seed-swollen-with-moisture-burst-asunder-its-covering-of-soil-and/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [In Vancouver I get a lot of questions about moisture issues, and there are always people concerned about foundations and framing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-baeumler/in-vancouver-i-get-a-lot-of-questions-about-moisture-issues-and-there/) [Bryan Baeumler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-baeumler/) > [And wasn't my mind also like another crib in the depths of which I felt I remained ensconced, even in order to watch what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/and-wasn-t-my-mind-also-like-another-crib-in-the-depths-of-which-i/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“There’s moisture in my madness. I should start keeping my insanity in Tupperware containers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/there-s-moisture-in-my-madness-i-should-start-keeping-my-insanity-in/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Throughout the day, I like to spritz my face with a rose water for extra moisture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/throughout-the-day-i-like-to-spritz-my-face-with-a-rose-water-for/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [“An area with good air movement helps to quickly dry foliage from moisture of dew, rain or sprinkler”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-oster/an-area-with-good-air-movement-helps-to-quickly-dry-foliage-from/) [Maggie Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-oster/) ## More by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Bricks should be made in Spring or Autumn so that they may dry uniformly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/bricks-should-be-made-in-spring-or-autumn-so-that-they-may-dry/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [It is no secret that the moon has no light of her own, but is, as it were, a mirror, receiving brightness from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/it-is-no-secret-that-the-moon-has-no-light-of-her-own-but-is-as-it/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Burn shavings and splinters of pitch pine, and when they turn to charcoal, put them out, and pound them into mortar with size. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/burn-shavings-and-splinters-of-pitch-pine-and-when-they-turn-to/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [With the ripening of the fruits in Autumn the leaves begin to wither and the trees, taking up their sap from the earth through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/with-the-ripening-of-the-fruits-in-autumn-the-leaves-begin-to-wither/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Astronomers have a common ground for discussion with musicians in the harmony of the stars and musical concords in tetrads and triads of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/astronomers-have-a-common-ground-for-discussion-with-musicians-in-the/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [The difference between "machines" and "engines" is obviously this, that machines need more workmen and greater power to make them take effect, as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/the-difference-between-machines-and-engines-is-obviously-this-that/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [ The \[engineer\] should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/the-engineer-should-be-equipped-with-knowledge-of-many-branches-of/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [ All these soft kinds \[of stone\] have the advantage that they can be easily worked as soon as they have been taken from the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/all-these-soft-kinds-of-stone-have-the-advantage-that-they-can-be/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Apollo at Delphi, through the oracular utterance of his priestess, pronounced Socrates the wisest of men. Of him it is related that he said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/apollo-at-delphi-through-the-oracular-utterance-of-his-priestess/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Music, also, the architect ought to understand so that he may have knowledge of the canonical and mathematical theory, and besides be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/music-also-the-architect-ought-to-understand-so-that-he-may-have/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Architecture depends on Order, Arrangement, Eurythmy, Symmetry , Propriety , and Economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/architecture-depends-on-order-arrangement-eurythmy-symmetry-propriety/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [In all matters but particularly in architecture, that which is signified is the subject of which we may be speaking and that which gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/in-all-matters-but-particularly-in-architecture-that-which-is/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [In felling a tree we should cut into the trunk of it to the very heart, and then leave it standing so that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/in-felling-a-tree-we-should-cut-into-the-trunk-of-it-to-the-very/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [In fact, all kinds of men, and not merely architects, can recognize a good piece of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/in-fact-all-kinds-of-men-and-not-merely-architects-can-recognize-a/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) [Explore all 90 Marcus Vitruvius Pollio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. 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