R. Buckminster Fuller

1895–1983 · American architect, systems theorist, inventor and futurist

Richard Buckminster Fuller Jr. — who styled himself R. Buckminster Fuller in print — was an American architect, systems theorist, designer, inventor and futurist best known for popularising the geodesic dome. He published more than thirty books and coined or popularised Spaceship Earth, Dymaxion, synergetics and tensegrity. He also lectured constantly, rephrasing the same arguments in slightly different words each time — which is exactly the habit that leaves a trail of quotations nobody can pin to a page.

Traced to source

2 quotes we’ve traced to R. Buckminster Fuller

“Everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them”

Disputed

“There's nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly”

Disputed

Not actually R. Buckminster Fuller

Often misattributed to R. Buckminster Fuller

Famous lines widely pinned on R. Buckminster Fuller that we’ve traced to someone else.

“Those who play with the devil's toys will be brought by degrees to wield his sword”

actually Thomas Fuller

On the research bench

Commonly pinned on R. Buckminster Fuller — under review

1 line flagged as pinned on R. Buckminster Fuller and queued for a full source trace — not yet verified.

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

Disputed

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