CHAPTER EIGHT Design for the built environment: bridging the Two Cultures

Wisdom’s not a thing you find.

It is more like a state of mind

And those who have it do not show it

While those who show it do not know it-

Indeed a most elusive thing!

To get what’s needed of the stuff

A life span isn’t long enough.

This is one of Ove Arup’s little verses. He was very accomplished in making short, pithy rhymes. He used this medium to express tersely, and with considerable wit, some profound thoughts - comments on life-long passions as well as on more topical matters.

This particular one alludes to his passionate search for knowledge and truth. He knew he could never find enough of the former, while his study of philosophy taught him that the latter, though elusive and prob-ably unattainable, was nevertheless worth searching for.