If you look at Gothic detailing right down to the bottom of a column or the capital of a column, it's a small version of the whole building; that's why, like dating the backbones of a dinosaur, a good historian can look at a detail of a Gothic building and tell you exactly what the rest of the building was, and infer the whole from the parts.

In this quote, Charles Jencks, a renowned architect and theorist, discusses the concept of Gothic detailing and how it reflects the larger structure of a building. He compares the detailed elements, such as the capital of a column, to a miniature version of the entire building. Jencks explains that by studying these smaller parts, a skilled historian can infer the design and structure of the whole building. This approach is similar to how paleontologists study the bones of a dinosaur to understand its full form and behavior.

The origin of this statement comes from Jencks’ deep understanding of architectural design, particularly Gothic architecture, which is known for its intricate and symbolic details. He draws a parallel between the way historians or architects can "read" the finer aspects of architecture and the way scientists infer the characteristics of prehistoric creatures from incomplete fossils. By examining specific elements, experts can reconstruct the broader picture of the building’s design, much like deducing the entire form of a dinosaur from just a few bones.

Jencks’ use of the example of dinosaur bones underscores the idea of inference in both fields—architecture and paleontology. Just as a good historian can deduce the full design of a Gothic building from its details, a paleontologist can reconstruct the shape and characteristics of a dinosaur from fragments of its skeleton. The quote emphasizes the importance of paying attention to details and understanding how they fit into a larger context to gain a deeper understanding of the whole.

Ultimately, the quote highlights the interconnectedness of parts and wholes, showing that the smallest detail, whether in architecture or science, can reveal much about the larger structure. Jencks’ analogy encourages us to appreciate how precision in smaller aspects can lead to a fuller understanding of complex systems, be they buildings or ancient creatures.