"Of the horse I will say nothing because I know the times."
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Quote collection
Leonardo da Vinci quotes (page 25 of 30)
583 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Perspective is a most subtle discovery in mathematical studies, for by means of lines it causes to appear distant that which is near, and large that which is small."
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"Science is the observation of things possible, whether present or past; prescience is the knowledge of things which may come to pass, though but slowly."
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"There is no doubt that truth is to falsehood as light is to darkness; and so excellent a thing is truth that even when it touches humble and lowly matters, it still incomparably exceeds the uncertainty and falsehood in which great and elevated discourses are clothed; because even if falsehood be the fifth element of our minds, notwithstanding this, truth is the supreme nourishment of the higher intellects."
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"This work should commence with the conception of man, and should describe the nature of the womb, and how the child inhabits it, and in what stage it dwells there, and the manner of its quickening and feeding, and its growth, and what interval there is between one stage of growth and another, and what thing drives it forth from the body of the mother, and for what reason it sometimes emerges from the belly of its mother before the due time."
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"The soul can never be corrupted with the corruption of the body, but it is like the wind which causes the sound of the organ, and which ceases to produce a good effect when a pipe is spoilt."
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"Who would believe that so small a space could contain the images of all the universe?"
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"The earth is moved from its position by the weight of a tiny bird resting upon it."
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"The good painter must paint two things: a person and the essence of his soul."
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"We ought not to desire the impossible."
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"Movement will fail sooner than usefulness."
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"Make yourself a master of perspective, then acquire perfect knowledge of the proportions of men and other animals."
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"Men standing in opposite hemispheres will converse and deride each other and embrace each other, and understand each other's language."
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"Necessity is the mistress and guide of nature."
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"Shadow is the diminution alike of light and of darkness, and stands between darkness and light."
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"Just as courage is the danger of life, so is fear its safeguard."
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"Experiment is the sole interpreter of the artifices of Nature."
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"The bones of the Dead will be seen to govern the fortunes of him who moves them."
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"Men and words are ready made, and you, O Painter, if you do not know how to make your figures move, are like an orator who knows not how to use his words."
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"The first of all simple colours is White ... We shall set down White for the representative of light, without which no colour can be seen; Yellow for the earth; Green for water; Blue for air; Red for fire; and Black for total darkness."
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