Leonardo da Vinci Quotes
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That man is of supreme folly who always wants for fear of wanting; and his life flies away while he is still hoping to enjoy the good things which he has with extreme labour acquired.
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It is ill to praise, and worse to reprimand in matters that you do not understand.
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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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Of the horse I will say nothing because I know the times.
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The image of the sun where it falls appears as a thing which covers the person who attempts to cover it.
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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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Fear arises sooner than anything else.
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Sculptured figures which appear in motion, will, in their standing position, actually look as if they were falling forward.
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He who offends others, does not secure himself.
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The Medici created and destroyed me.
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An infinite number of men will sell publicly and unhindered things of the very highest price, without leave from the Master of it; while it never was theirs nor in their power; and human justice will not prevent it.
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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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The painter strives and competes with nature.
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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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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 have seen motions of the air so furious that they have carried, mixed up in their course, the largest trees of the forest and whole roofs of great palaces, and I have seen the same fury bore a hole with a whirling movement digging out a gravel pit, and carrying gravel, sand and water more than half a mile through the air.
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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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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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He who possesses most must be most afraid of loss.
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What is fair in men, passes away, but not so in art.
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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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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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The wind which passes through the skins of animals will make men leap up:-That is the bagpipes, which cause men to dance.