In short, the buildings which have become known as follies do nothing more than reflect human nature and taste and, before we judge the motives of their builders, we might be well advised to examin ethe fancies and conceits which lurk within our own minds and personalities.

Stuart Barton
Monumental Follies.

In making the attempt to define the undefineable, many scholars have tended to overlook the element of eccentricity, which is an integral part of every folly builders personality.

Monumental Follies, Stuart Barton.