"To make a perfume, take some rose water and wash your hands in it, then take a lavender flower and rub it with your palms, and you will achieve the desired effect"
Leonardo da Vinci
Artist, Scientist, Inventor
Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance polymath known for masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and his innovative contributions to art and science.
- Born
- April 15, 1452
- Died
- May 2, 1519
- Quotes
- 583
- Rank
- #230
About Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci — Life and Legacy
Leonardo da Vinci, a quintessential figure of the Renaissance, is celebrated for his extraordinary contributions to both art and science. His iconic works, such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, showcase not only his artistic genius but also his deep understanding of human emotion and anatomy. At the core of Leonardo's philosophy was the belief that observation and inquiry were essential to mastery. He famously stated, 'The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions,' reflecting his commitment to empirical evidence and critical thinking. This perspective drove him to explore the intricacies of the natural world, leading to groundbreaking studies in anatomy, engineering, and hydraulics. Leonardo's quotes reveal a mind that constantly sought to bridge the gap between art and science. He asserted, 'Painting is a mental thing,' illustrating his view that artistic creation is rooted in intellectual rigor. His innovative spirit challenged the norms of his time, pushing boundaries in both artistic expression and scientific exploration. Today, Leonardo's insights continue to resonate, inspiring creativity and intellectual curiosity. His belief that 'Learning never exhausts the mind' serves as a reminder of the importance of lifelong learning and the pursuit of knowledge in all fields.
Quote collection
Leonardo da Vinci quotes (page 1 of 30)
583 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Being willing is not enough. We must do."
"Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets."
"There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, those who do not see."
"Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works."
"Whatever you do in life, if you want to be creative and intelligent, and develop your brain, you must do everything with the awareness that everything, in some way, connects to everything else."
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
"When you put your hand in a flowing stream, you touch the last that has gone before and the first of what is still to come."
"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death."
"average human “looks without seeing, listens without hearing, touches without feeling, eats without tasting, moves without physical awareness, inhales without awareness of odour or fragrance, and talks without thinking."
"I awoke, only to see that the rest of the world is still asleep."
"If you find from your own experience that something is a fact and it contradicts what some authority has written down, then you must abandon the authority and base your reasoning on your own findings."
"Where there is shouting, there is no true knowledge."
"Be a mirror, absorb everything around you and still remain the same"
"Water is the driving force of all nature."
"In time and with water, everything changes."
"Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation... even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind."
"Look at light and admire its beauty. Close your eyes, and then look again: what you saw is no longer there; and what you will see later is not yet."
"Experience is a truer guide than the words of others."
"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things."