Life is more important than architecture.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
Sometimes I lose a whole morning waiting on journalists and other people who look for me. But I always find some time for reading, talking to my friends and feeling what is happening in this world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Prioritizing personal connections and self-reflection is vital, despite external demands.
This quote by Oscar Niemeyer emphasizes the importance of balancing our obligations to others, such as journalists seeking our attention, with the necessity of nurturing our personal lives through reading, conversations with friends, and being present in the world. It suggests that even amidst distractions and demands, finding time for meaningful activities enriches our understanding of life and fosters deeper connections.
Themes
TimeFriendsReadingWorldBalance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about work-life balance, one could reference this quote to illustrate the importance of personal time.
More from Oscar Niemeyer
All quotes →I deliberately disregarded the right angle and rationalist architecture designed with ruler and square to boldly enter the world of curves and straight lines offered by reinforced concrete... This deliberate protest arose from the environment in which I lived, with its white beaches, its huge mountains, its old baroque churches, and the beautiful suntanned women.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
We need to feel that life is important; we need that fantasy so we can live a little better.
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Here, then, is what I wanted to tell you of my architecture. I created it with courage and idealism, but also with an awareness of the fact that what is important is life, friends and attempting to make this unjust world a better place in which to live.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
When you have a large space to conquer, the curve is the natural solution.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
I was attracted by the curve — the liberated, sensual curve suggested by the possibilities of new technology yet so often recalled in venerable old baroque churches.
Oscar NiemeyerRead
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