Ernest Flagg on Philosophy

"Reason requires all things to have a use and be appropriate and fitted to the purpose for which they are used."

"There have always seemed to the writer sound reasons for using the module system in architectural design."

"Many women do not like to sleep on the ground floor, being afraid to leave their windows open at night. With ridge-dormers standing open, the lower windows may be kept closed and locked, while the room will be perfectly ventilated without them."

"3d. Saving of materials: By greatly reducing the average height of walls... and reduction of floor thicknesses... by reducing the size and cost of foundations... by the elimination of the cellar... by the omission of much of the ground-floor beams and wooden underflooring... by the elimination of all wooden studs and lath from partitions... by the elimination of practically all trim, casing, base-boards, and their moldings... by the omission of framing and casing of dormers... by the omission of most of the plastering... by the use of splayed jambs which also improves light... by the use of a special type of casement window... by the omission of applied ornament, reliance for beauty depending on other means... by greater economy in making and using forms... by the omission of stone sills... by the omission of raised verandah floors, steps, balustrades, etc... in the shortening of all stairs, pipes, ducts, drains, and wires... in the avoidance of waste by designing for the use of standard lengths and sizes of material without cutting, as for beams, glass, etc., which the module system of planning makes easy... in the avoidance of things requiring paint, and the use of wax for the finish of interior woodwork... in the reduction of the size of sleepers for flooring... in the more economical use of concrete... in the saving of about one-half the piping in the installation of plumbing drainage... in the elimination of butts and screws for the hanging of windows and doors; and by the omission of fly-screens, the netting being directly applied to the window-frames."

"Reason...to suppose any production, worthy to be called a work of art, can be made without its use is foolish. ...By the use of reason many mistakes in design may be avoided and many counterfeits of art readily detected....Beauty alone is an excellent reason for many things, but when a design is in direct conflict with common sense it cannot be a work of art."

"How few people, even among the supposedly well educated, can give an intelligent explanation of the qualities of a design! ...the essential ones ...are necessary in order that the design may be worthy to be classed at all as a work of art. Among the essential qualities are reason, unity, harmony, clarity, and variety. Among the desirable qualities are imagination, interest, refinement, simplicity, dignity, and style."