Isambard Kingdom Brunel

The public are very apt to be carried away by the force of example.

I have always found that the best way to get a thing done is to begin it.

The public are very apt to be misled by the appearance of things.

I have always been of the opinion that a man should never be afraid to dream big.

I am opposed to the laying down of rules or conditions to be observed in the construction of bridges lest the progress of improvement tomorrow might be embarrassed or shackled by recording or registering as law the prejudices or errors of today.

The public will, no doubt, be surprised to be told that the Great Britain, the largest ship in the world, is at this moment floating in the very dock in which she was built, without the slightest injury, and in perfect condition.

I shall not attempt to argue with those who see no beauty in a well-proportioned cylinder, a clean crank, or a perfect parallel motion.

In the face of difficulties, the whole question is, shall we give it up? No! We'll fight it out.

The railway is the greatest mechanical invention of the age; it is the triumph of mind over matter.

My notion is, that the size of the ship should be limited only by the capacity of the building yard and the depth of the harbour.

I am never satisfied unless I am doing something no one else has done.

The great advantage of a suspension bridge is that you can build it without stopping the navigation of the river.

I am going to design a bridge in a way that it will appear as light and elegant as possible, consistent with strength and stability.

The whole secret of engineering is to know when to be bold and when to be cautious.

I am more proud of having been the means of conferring benefit on my fellow-creatures than of all the professional fame I have acquired.

In engineering, as in life, the line of beauty is the line of perfect utility.

The atmospheric system is the only one which can be considered perfect for railways.

Do not be afraid of size; size is not grandeur.

A project is not to be measured by the difficulties it presents, but by the benefits it confers.

I confess I am not a believer in the infallibility of any theory, however plausible.