46 Quotes by I. M. Pei

I want to bring out the best in a community and contribute something of permanent value.

It is not an individual act, architecture. You have to consider your client. Only out of that can you produce great architecture. You cannot work in the abstract.

Let's do it right. This is for the ages.

You cannot defend your design without knowing what you're designing for.

You cannot defend your design without knowing what you’re designing for.

Let’s do it right. This is for the ages.

I didn’t want to think about a project that I couldn’t finish. That’s a kind of temptation. One has to realize one’s limitations. Why kid yourself?

I travel to the Middle East, I travel to China, I travel to Europe. It’s all very rewarding – the only problem is the travel is getting more and more difficult for me now. Ten years ago I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

Many of the projects I’m most proud of are tall buildings, especially the housing projects. In New York I have two: one in Kips Bay and one at New York University. At that time, those projects were most challenging.