Ivy climbs a miniature stone column against a terracotta wall and floor.

Original artwork, not a still

Frank Lloyd Wright

The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The joke makes hiding a mistake the common problem of two very different professions. A doctor's error is imagined underground, while a building remains visible unless vines cover it. The grim comparison turns a seemingly practical concern about appearances into a sharp joke about failure.

Context reviewed

Share this quote