--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my opinion, as an engineer, a bridge…" description: "\"In my opinion, as an engineer, a bridge is the most difficult thing you can do. You are not working in the direction of gravity but against it - so the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/santiago-calatrava-3749_bridge_in-my-opinion-as-an-engineer-a-bridge-is_3229185.jpg" --- # In my opinion, as an engineer, a bridge is the most… ![“In my opinion, as an engineer, a bridge is the most difficult thing you can do. You are not working in the direction of gravity but against it - so the problem opposes the solution.” quote by Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/santiago-calatrava-3749_bridge_in-my-opinion-as-an-engineer-a-bridge-is_3229185.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/santiago-calatrava-3749_bridge_in-my-opinion-as-an-engineer-a-bridge-is_3229185.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/santiago-calatrava-3749_bridge_in-my-opinion-as-an-engineer-a-bridge-is_3229185.jpg) > “In my opinion, as an engineer, a bridge is the most difficult thing you can do. You are not working in the direction of gravity but against it - so the problem opposes the solution.” [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engineering a bridge is hardest because it works against gravity, making the solution oppose the problem. **In simple terms:** Bridges fight gravity, making design tough. Key Takeaway Design with gravity in mind. Themes engineering challenge physics Mood inquisitive inspirational Type technical philosophical When to use this quote - bridge construction - architectural design - gravity opposition Key Concepts structural mechanics problem solving Questions to Reflect On - How can we turn opposition into advantage? - What new materials aid bridge design? A Different Perspective Gravity can be mitigated with innovative materials. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridge/) [Bridge Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridge-difficult-6102176/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Engineer Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineer-bridge-6102177/) [Gravity Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity-problem-1319176/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Problem Opposes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-opposes-6102178/) ## Related quotes > [“The Five Great Problems in Theoretical Physics: Problem 1: Combine general relativity and quantum theory into a single theory that can claim to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smolin/the-five-great-problems-in-theoretical-physics-problem-1-combine/) [Lee Smolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smolin/) > [“These are all gravity problems—meaning they are not real problems. Why? Because in life design, if it’s not actionable, it’s not a problem. Let’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/these-are-all-gravity-problems-meaning-they-are-not-real-problems-why/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [Building a bridge, in my opinion, is a symbolic gesture, linked with the needs of people who cross over it, and with the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/building-a-bridge-in-my-opinion-is-a-symbolic-gesture-linked-with-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [A bridge is born of necessity, but it must establish its own identity. It should harmonize with its surroundings, and the design must transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/a-bridge-is-born-of-necessity-but-it-must-establish-its-own-identity/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [What I do is the opposite of building walls. I build bridges. A bridge is something that connects instead of separating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/what-i-do-is-the-opposite-of-building-walls-i-build-bridges-a-bridge/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I remember, many years ago, coming over the Brooklyn Bridge in the night and seeing the skyline of Manhattan, with the Twin Towers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I've crossed every bridge to become a Premier League goalkeeper, I think I'm going in the right direction and I think I'm mature as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-pickford/i-ve-crossed-every-bridge-to-become-a-premier-league-goalkeeper-i/) [Jordan Pickford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-pickford/) > [“Houses built on bridges are scandals. A bridge wants to not be. If it could choose its shape, a bridge would be no shape,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/houses-built-on-bridges-are-scandals-a-bridge-wants-to-not-be-if-it/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [I find that it's best to take one step at a time and cross each bridge as they come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-find-that-it-s-best-to-take-one-step-at-a-time-and-cross-each/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [“Mr Benz, the parapet of an Italian bridge doesn’t look like the proper place for you,” said Chase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefania-mattana/mr-benz-the-parapet-of-an-italian-bridge-doesn-t-look-like-the-proper/) [Stefania Mattana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefania-mattana/) > [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/) > [Telling your story is transformative. For both the storyteller and their audience, a new bridge to understanding is created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/telling-your-story-is-transformative-for-both-the-storyteller-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [People who have lost relationships often wonder why they can't just let it be water under the bridge. It is water under the bridge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-fairley/people-who-have-lost-relationships-often-wonder-why-they-can-t-just/) [Grant Fairley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-fairley/) > [“Art is what gets us beyond what is real. It makes reality more real. It also shortens the distance we gotta travel to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-pritchett/art-is-what-gets-us-beyond-what-is-real-it-makes-reality-more-real-it/) [Laura Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-pritchett/) > [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/) ## More by Santiago Calatrava > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [The architect is very interesting because the architect is the commander, meaning the one who commands all the workers. The architect is also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-architect-is-very-interesting-because-the-architect-is-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I remember, many years ago, coming over the Brooklyn Bridge in the night and seeing the skyline of Manhattan, with the Twin Towers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I've never been interested in pure movement or pure stability, but in the unstable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-ve-never-been-interested-in-pure-movement-or-pure-stability-but-in/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [The concept of an "architect" is one of the oldest professions in the world. Whereas, some professions, such as a "lawyer", have their roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-concept-of-an-architect-is-one-of-the-oldest-professions-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [There is a change in the view about how condominiums are designed. People used to make prototype apartments and reproduce these boxes hundreds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/there-is-a-change-in-the-view-about-how-condominiums-are-designed/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [Bridges represent archetypal problems. They are artifacts that bring you across or around an obstacle. So they have an unbelievable force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/bridges-represent-archetypal-problems-they-are-artifacts-that-bring/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [There was a wish to get something exceptional, ... I also wanted to deliver something technically unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/there-was-a-wish-to-get-something-exceptional-i-also-wanted-to/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I always considered the role of teaching to be very noble and relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-always-considered-the-role-of-teaching-to-be-very-noble-and-relevant/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [When I work on sculpture, I don't have to worry about function. When I work on a piece of architecture, I must think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/when-i-work-on-sculpture-i-don-t-have-to-worry-about-function-when-i/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [The Taj Mahal is a monument to love in all cultures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-taj-mahal-is-a-monument-to-love-in-all-cultures/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [Many of the architects I admire have given the best of themselves as they mature. I'm hoping to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/many-of-the-architects-i-admire-have-given-the-best-of-themselves-as/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I love the construction process and it is always important because we try to experiment and do something new, so the builders are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-love-the-construction-process-and-it-is-always-important-because-we/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [You start a project as a young person and then at the end you are another person. You are ready to go for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/you-start-a-project-as-a-young-person-and-then-at-the-end-you-are/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [Being an architect is like playing piano, you learn to play to admire how well the other guys play piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/being-an-architect-is-like-playing-piano-you-learn-to-play-to-admire/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) [Explore all 123 Santiago Calatrava quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) ## More Bridge quotes > [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/) > [“Art is what gets us beyond what is real. It makes reality more real. It also shortens the distance we gotta travel to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-pritchett/art-is-what-gets-us-beyond-what-is-real-it-makes-reality-more-real-it/) [Laura Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-pritchett/) > [People who have lost relationships often wonder why they can't just let it be water under the bridge. It is water under the bridge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-fairley/people-who-have-lost-relationships-often-wonder-why-they-can-t-just/) [Grant Fairley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-fairley/) > [Telling your story is transformative. For both the storyteller and their audience, a new bridge to understanding is created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/telling-your-story-is-transformative-for-both-the-storyteller-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [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/) > [“Mr Benz, the parapet of an Italian bridge doesn’t look like the proper place for you,” said Chase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefania-mattana/mr-benz-the-parapet-of-an-italian-bridge-doesn-t-look-like-the-proper/) [Stefania Mattana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefania-mattana/) > [I find that it's best to take one step at a time and cross each bridge as they come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-find-that-it-s-best-to-take-one-step-at-a-time-and-cross-each/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [“Houses built on bridges are scandals. A bridge wants to not be. If it could choose its shape, a bridge would be no shape,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/houses-built-on-bridges-are-scandals-a-bridge-wants-to-not-be-if-it/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [I remember, many years ago, coming over the Brooklyn Bridge in the night and seeing the skyline of Manhattan, with the Twin Towers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [My parents wielded disposal cameras and Polaroids with the best of them, occasionally begging for at least one decent photo of my brother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/my-parents-wielded-disposal-cameras-and-polaroids-with-the-best-of/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [“Love is a bridge between your future and mine. A bridge constructed entirely out of trust, honesty, and in our case, wooden planks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-bridge-between-your-future-and-mine-a-bridge-constructed/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [What I do is I'm trying to bridge the gap between yoga and fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/what-i-do-is-i-m-trying-to-bridge-the-gap-between-yoga-and-fitness/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Historically, Hong Kong has served as an important bridge between China and the world. Our freedoms, stability and the rule of law have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/historically-hong-kong-has-served-as-an-important-bridge-between/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Tower Bridge would make a cool house. I like the idea of living over the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-broad/tower-bridge-would-make-a-cool-house-i-like-the-idea-of-living-over/) [Stuart Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-broad/) [Browse all 736 Bridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my opinion, as an engineer, a bridge is the most difficult thing you can do. 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