--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is an exceptional event to build a…" description: "\"It is an exceptional event to build a cathedral - it must withstand several lifetimes.\" — Santiago Calatrava" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/santiago-calatrava-3749_build_it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-ca_2982095.png" --- # It is an exceptional event to build a cathedral - it must… ![“It is an exceptional event to build a cathedral - it must withstand several lifetimes.” quote by Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/santiago-calatrava-3749_build_it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-ca_2982095.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/santiago-calatrava-3749_build_it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-ca_2982095.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/santiago-calatrava-3749_build_it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-ca_2982095.png) > “It is an exceptional event to build a cathedral - it must withstand several lifetimes.” [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. Building a cathedral demands enduring vision and craftsmanship that must survive multiple generations. **In simple terms:** Cathedrals require timeless vision. Key Takeaway Design for longevity. Themes architecture legacy durability Mood awe inspired Type architectural philosophical When to use this quote - large-scale construction - urban planning - heritage preservation Key Concepts Structural engineering cultural heritage Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance tradition and innovation? - What safeguards ensure longevity? A Different Perspective Future needs may differ from original intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build/) [Build Cathedral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-cathedral-2222183/) [Cathedral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cathedral/) [Cathedral Withstand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cathedral-withstand-4642741/) [Event](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/event/) [Exceptional Event](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exceptional-event-4642743/) [Must](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/must/) [Withstand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/withstand/) [Withstand Lifetimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/withstand-lifetimes-4642742/) ## Related quotes > [You can't build a cathedral in a day. A look at the club's history tells you these things take time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-houllier/you-can-t-build-a-cathedral-in-a-day-a-look-at-the-club-s-history/) [Gerard Houllier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-houllier/) > [When I started to build this cathedral, the word on the street was that I was crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justo-gallego/when-i-started-to-build-this-cathedral-the-word-on-the-street-was/) [Justo Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justo-gallego/) > [“Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.” —Frank Lloyd Wright”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-r-gehring/regard-it-as-just-as-desirable-to-build-a-chicken-house-as-to-build-a-3/) [Abigail R. Gehring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-r-gehring/) > [Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. The size of the project means little in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/regard-it-as-just-as-desirable-to-build-a-chicken-house-as-to-build-a-2/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/regard-it-as-just-as-desirable-to-build-a-chicken-house-as-to-build-a/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“I can withstand anything because I am sure about our love and I have determined to fight for it to the death. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-aster/i-can-withstand-anything-because-i-am-sure-about-our-love-and-i-have/) [Willow Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-aster/) > [In order for us and our families to withstand the pressures of the world, we must be filled with light and gospel truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-a-esplin/in-order-for-us-and-our-families-to-withstand-the-pressures-of-the/) [Cheryl A. 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Give me the capacity to forget ever having felt your touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/help-me-to-withstand-your-beauty-as-it-stands-out-of-reach-give-me/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“When a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions, she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/when-a-lady-does-consent-to-listen-to-an-argument-against-her-own/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) ## 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 Build quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [I build on Christ, the rock of ages; on his sure mercies described in his word, and on his promises, all which I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/i-build-on-christ-the-rock-of-ages-on-his-sure-mercies-described-in/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [The way you get wickets is, you've got to build pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-arthur/the-way-you-get-wickets-is-you-ve-got-to-build-pressure/) [Mickey Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-arthur/) > [For rich children, it'd be very easy and convenient never to take any steps to build an identity outside of your association with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-johnson/for-rich-children-it-d-be-very-easy-and-convenient-never-to-take-any/) [Jamie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-johnson/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [You have to build what the market needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-s-miller/you-have-to-build-what-the-market-needs/) [Jamie S. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-s-miller/) > [I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/i-oppose-any-proposal-for-the-federal-government-to-build-and-operate/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [“Create with the heart; build with the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/create-with-the-heart-build-with-the-mind/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Since, however, it is immaterial whether the work is done by assistants or a machine, I decided to build a machine equivalent to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-however-it-is-immaterial-whether-the-work-is-done-by-assistants/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For 'Inhuman,' it's a 'chess game' series. You have a lot of pieces moving different ways at once, and it's about what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-soule/for-inhuman-it-s-a-chess-game-series-you-have-a-lot-of-pieces-moving/) [Charles Soule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-soule/) > [What we need to make sure we do as a team is build the quickest car on the grid - if we have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valtteri-bottas/what-we-need-to-make-sure-we-do-as-a-team-is-build-the-quickest-car/) [Valtteri Bottas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valtteri-bottas/) > [Always build. If you start at fever pitch, there's nowhere to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goldman/always-build-if-you-start-at-fever-pitch-there-s-nowhere-to-go/) [Jane Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goldman/) > [I have spent my career helping to build and grow businesses, and if I've learned one thing, it's that being pro-business and pro-consumer are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/i-have-spent-my-career-helping-to-build-and-grow-businesses-and-if-i/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [If you can build it, you can unbuild it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-pitts/if-you-can-build-it-you-can-unbuild-it/) [Jake Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-pitts/) > [You don't build your character by doing what everybody else is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ghosn/you-don-t-build-your-character-by-doing-what-everybody-else-is-doing/) [Carlos Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ghosn/) [Browse all 1,564 Build quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is an exceptional event to build a cathedral - it must withstand several lifetimes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Santiago Calatrava" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-cathedral-it-must-withstand/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Build" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-cathedral-it-must-withstand/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/santiago-calatrava-3749_build_it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-ca_2982095.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/santiago-calatrava-3749_build_it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-ca_2982095.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/santiago-calatrava-3749_build_it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-ca_2982095.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is an exceptional event to build a cathedral - it must withstand several lifetimes.” — Santiago Calatrava", "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": "Santiago Calatrava", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is an exceptional event to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-cathedral-it-must-withstand/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/it-is-an-exceptional-event-to-build-a-cathedral-it-must-withstand/#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 } } ] } ```