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.

Read more about Folly.

Famous quotes containing the word folly:

    She had no longer any relish for her once favorite amusement of reading. And mostly she disliked those authors who have penetrated deeply into the intricate paths of vanity in the human mind, for in them her own folly was continually brought to her remembrance and presented to her view.
    Sarah Fielding (1710–1768)

    If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise.
    William Blake (1757–1827)

    Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
    Bible: Hebrew, Ecclesiastes 10:1.