Leonardo da Vinci Quotes
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A single and distinct luminous body causes stronger relief in the object than a diffused light; as may be seen by comparing one side of a landscape illuminated by the sun, and one overshadowed by clouds, and so illuminated only by the diffused light of the atmosphere.
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A vase of unbaked clay, when broken, may be remoulded, but not a baked one.
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Here forms, here colours, here the character of every part of the universe are concentrated to a point; and that point is so marvellous a thing … Oh! marvellous, O stupendous Necessity - by thy laws thou dost compel every effect to be the direct result of its cause, by the shortest path. These are miracles...
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The atmosphere is blue by reason of the darkness above it because black and white make blue.
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Observe the light and consider its beauty. Blink your eye and look at it. That which you see was not there at first, and that which was there is there no more.
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Represent your figures in such action as may be fitted to express what purpose is in the mind of each; otherwise your art will not be admirable.
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Any one who in discussion relies upon authority uses, not his understanding, but rather his memory. Good culture is born of a good disposition; and since the cause is more to be praised than the effect, I will rather praise a good disposition without culture, than good culture without the disposition.
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The painter strives and competes with nature.
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It is ill to praise, and worse to reprimand in matters that you do not understand.
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He who offends others, does not secure himself.
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He who walks straight rarely falls.
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A shadow may be infinitely dark, and also of infinite degrees of absence of darkness. The beginnings and ends of shadow lie between the light and darkness and may be infinitely diminished and infinitely increased. Shadow is the means by which bodies display their form. The forms of bodies could not be understood in detail but for shadow.
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I myself have proved it to be of no small use, when in bed in the dark, to recall in fancy the external details of forms previously studied, or other noteworthy things conceived by subtle speculation; and this is certainly an admirable exercise, and useful for impressing things on the memory.
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A dark object seen against a bright background will appear smaller than it is. A light object will look larger when it is seen against a background darker than itself.
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What is fair in men, passes away, but not so in art.
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The part always has a tendency to reunite with its whole in order to escape from its imperfection.
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The Medici created and destroyed me.
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He who possesses most must be most afraid of loss.
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Such as harm is when it hurts me not, is good which avails me not.
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Disgrace should be represented upside down, because all her deeds are contrary to God and tend to hell.
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That which was at first bound, cast out and rent by many and various beaters will be respected and honoured, and its precepts will be listened to with reverence and love.
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Necessity is the theme and the inventress, the eternal curb and law of nature.
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There will be many who will eagerly and with great care and solicitude follow up a thing, which, if they only knew its malignity, would always terrify them. Of those men, who, the older they grow, the more avaricious they become, whereas, having but little time to stay, they should become more liberal.
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The properties of the air are such that it may become condensed or rarefied.