I.M. Pei

Speech on legacy: Leave the world more beautiful than you found it.

Interview quip: I.M. stands for 'Imagine More'.

Final reflection: In the end, architecture is about hope.

Architecture is the very mirror of life. You only have to walk through a city and you can feel the past, present and future all at once.

Good architecture is not about being trendy. It's about being timeless.

Light is the key to everything. It creates the mood and the atmosphere of a space, it is the very essence of architecture.

I don't like to be pigeonholed. I like to think that each project is a new challenge, a new opportunity to learn and to grow.

The architect's role is to interpret the client's needs and aspirations, and to translate them into a built form that is both functional and beautiful.

You have to be a little bit crazy to be an architect. You have to believe in your vision, even when others don't.

The most important thing is to create a sense of place. A building should belong to its site, and to its community.

I try to make my buildings speak for themselves. I don't believe in grand pronouncements or manifestos.

Modern architecture is not a style, it's an attitude.

The challenge is to make something new, but also to respect the past.

I am not interested in fashion. I am interested in enduring quality.

The pyramid is a symbol of strength and endurance. It is a form that has stood the test of time.

My work is about creating spaces that are both monumental and intimate.

Architecture is about the careful manipulation of light and shadow.

I believe in the power of geometry. It is the language of order and harmony.

Every building has a story to tell. It is my job to help it tell that story.

The beauty of architecture lies in its ability to inspire and uplift the human spirit.