Quotes from Leonardo da Vinci

I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.

I have offended God and mankind because my work didn't reach the quality it should have.

Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.

Man and the animals are merely a passage and channel for food, a tomb for other animals, a haven for the dead, giving life by the death of others, a coffer full of corruption.

A good painter is to paint two main things, men and the working of man's mind.

As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings a happy death.

Common sense is that which judges the things given to it by other senses.

Just as courage imperils life; fear protects it.

The poet ranks far below the painter in the representation of visible things, and far below the musician in that of invisible things.

Three classes of people: Those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.

A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.

Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.

The painter has the Universe in his mind and hands.

Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.

I love those who can smile in trouble...

The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.

I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men.

Nothing can be loved or hated unless it is first understood.

The smallest feline is a masterpiece.

As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.

If you are alone you belong entirely to yourself. If you are accompanied by even one companion you belong only half to yourself or even less in proportion to the thoughtlessness of his conduct and if you have more than one companion you will fall more deeply into the same plight.

I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death