Folly

Folly

In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs. In the original use of the word, these buildings had no other use, but from the 19th to 20th centuries the term was also applied to highly decorative buildings which had secondary practical functions such as housing, sheltering or business use.

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Famous quotes containing the word folly:

    He knew human folly like the back of his hand,
    —W.H. (Wystan Hugh)

    She never yet was foolish that was fair,
    For even her folly helped her to an heir.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    They who in folly or mere greed
    Enslaved religion, markets, laws,
    Borrow our language now and bid
    Us to speak up in freedom’s cause.
    Cecil Day Lewis (1904–1972)