“Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.”
“From the crooked timber of humanity, never was a straight thing made.”
“From such crooked timber as humanity is made of, no straight thing was ever constructed.”
“From the crooked timber of humanity, a straight board cannot be hewn.”
“In the construction of houses, choice of woods is made. Straight un-knotted timber of good appearance is used for the revealed pillars, straight timber with small defects is used for the inner pillars. Timbers of the finest appearance, even if a little weak, is used for the thresholds, lintels, doors, and sliding doors, and so on. Good strong timber, though it be gnarled and knotted, can always be used discreetly in construction.”