Leonardo da Vinci Quotes
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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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The lover is moved by the beloved object as the senses are by sensual objects; and they unite and become one and the same thing. The work is the first thing born of this union; if the thing loved is base the lover becomes base.
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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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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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Necessity is the mistress and guide of nature.
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When that which loves is united to the thing beloved it can rest there; when the burden is laid down it finds rest there. There will be eternal fame also for the inhabitants of that town, constructed and enlarged by him.
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Light is the chaser away of darkness. Shade is the obstruction of light. Primary light is that which falls on objects and causes light and shade. And derived lights are those portions of a body which are illuminated by the primary light. A primary shadow is that side of a body on which the light cannot fall.
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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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Intellectual passion drives out sensuality.
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May it please our great Author that I may demonstrate the nature of man and his customs, in the way I describe his figure.
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What is fair in men, passes away, but not so in art.
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Our body is dependent on heaven and heaven on the Spirit.
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It is easier to contend with evil at the first than at the last.
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Truth was the only daughter of Time.
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The properties of the air are such that it may become condensed or rarefied.
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One who by himself is mild enough and void of all offence will become terrible and fierce by being in bad company, and will most cruelly take the life of many men, and would kill many more if they were not hindered by bodies having no soul, that have come out of caverns - that is, breastplates of iron.
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He who possesses most must be most afraid of loss.
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Ivy is of longevity.
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Do not reveal, if liberty is precious to you; my face is the prison of love.
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Truth at last cannot be hidden. Dissimulation is of no avail. Dissimulation is to no purpose before so great a judge. Falsehood puts on a mask. Nothing is hidden under the sun.
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Since the wings are swifter to press the air than the air is to escape from beneath the wings the air becomes condensed and resists the movement of the wings; and the motive power of these wings by subduing the resistance of the air raises itself in a contrary movement to the movement of the wings.
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Necessity is the theme and the inventress, the eternal curb and law of nature.
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Of several luminous bodies of equal size and brilliancy and at an equal distance, that will look the largest which is surrounded by the darkest background.
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Such as harm is when it hurts me not, is good which avails me not.