“In a word, the opinions of learned authors, though their bodily forms are absent, gain strength as time time goes on, and, when taking part in councils and discussions, have greater weight than those of any living men.”

— Vitruvius , book De architectura

Introduction, Sec. 17
De architectura (The Ten Books On Architecture) (~ 15BC), Book IX

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Vitruvius 203

Roman writer, architect and engineer -80–-15 BC

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