Leonardo da Vinci

Italy
15 Apr 1452 // 2 May 1519
Scientist / Man of Arts

Quotes

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He who wishes to be rich in a day will be hanged in a year
He who possesses most must be most afraid of loss
Man has much power of discourse which for the most part is vain and false; animals have but little, but it is useful and true, and a small truth is better than a great lie
The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions
The acquisition of any knowledge is always of use to the intellect, because it may thus drive out useless things and retain the good. For nothing can be loved or hated unless it is first known
Learning acquired in youth arrests the evil of old age; and if you understand that old age has wisdom for its food, you will so conduct yourself in youth that your old age will not lack for nourishment
Men are in error when they lament the flight of time, accusing it of being too swift, and not perceiving that it is sufficient as it passes; but good memory, with which nature has endowed us, causes things long past to seem present
The knowledge of past times and of the places on the earth is both an ornament and nutriment to the human mind
Science is the captain, and practice the soldiers
Every instrument requires to be made by experience
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays