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481 Powerful Leonardo da Vinci Quotes to Inspire You

Artistic Expression | Balanced Approach | Critical Thinking | Deep Affection | Early Growth | Feather Symbol | Generational Art | Happy Death | Inner Strength | Joyful End | More

About Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was a true Renaissance polymath, excelling as a painter, inventor, scientist, and engineer. Born in the small village of Vinci in Italy, he epitomized the spirit of the Renaissance with his insatiable curiosity and genius across multiple disciplines. Leonardo’s groundbreaking artworks, including the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper”, remain iconic masterpieces of art history. His notebooks, filled with sketches, scientific observations, and inventions, highlight his innovative mind and extraordinary ability to connect art and science.

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Here are 481 Powerful quotes by Leonardo da Vinci on various topics to inspire you.

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Being willing is not enough We must do

1. “Being willing is not enough. We must do.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Willing Action, Doing Effort, Active Pursuit, Intentional Action, Life Commitment

Perspective is the rein and rudder of painting

2. “Perspective is the rein and rudder of painting.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Artistic Perspective, Painting Control, Creative Direction, Artistic Guidance, Visual Composition

It’s not enough that you believe what you see You

3. “It’s not enough that you believe what you see. You must also understand what you see.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Visual Understanding, Deeper Knowledge, Seeing vs Believing, Knowledge Interpretation, Clarity of Vision

O mighty and once living instrument of formative nature Incapable

4. “O mighty and once living instrument of formative nature. Incapable of availing thyself of thy vast strength thou hast to abandon a life of stillness and to obey the law which God and time gave to procreative nature.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Formative Nature, Life Strength, Natural Laws, Divine Law, Creative Forces

Man has much power of discourse which for the most

5. “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.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Human Discourse, False Talk, Animal Truth, Meaningful Communication, Truth vs Lie

Common Sense is that which judges the things given to

6. “Common Sense is that which judges the things given to it by other senses.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Common Sense, Sensory Judgment, Practical Wisdom, Rational Thought, Sense Integration

When that which loves is united to the thing beloved

7. “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.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Love Union, Restful Love, Eternal Fame, Building Legacy, Burden Released

A wave is never found alone but is mingled with

8. “A wave is never found alone, but is mingled with the other waves.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Wave Unity, Natural Forces, Collective Movement, Ocean Dynamics, Interconnected Waves

Science is the observation of things possible whether present or

9. “Science is the observation of things possible, whether present or past; prescience is the knowledge of things which may come to pass, though but slowly.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Scientific Observation, Future Knowledge, Prescience Insight, Temporal Understanding, Slow Knowledge

Not to punish evil is equivalent to authorizing it

10. “Not to punish evil is equivalent to authorizing it.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Punishing Evil, Moral Responsibility, Justice Action, Evil Allowance, Ethical Obligation

The limiting surface of one thing is the beginning of

11. “The limiting surface of one thing is the beginning of another.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Surface Limits, Boundary Transition, New Beginnings, Conceptual Boundaries, Change Initiation

The lover is drawn by the thing loved as the

12. “The lover is drawn by the thing loved, as the sense is by that which it perceives...”

Leonardo da Vinci

Lover's Desire, Sense Attraction, Love Drive, Sensory Perception, Emotional Pull

Whoever despises the high wisdom of mathematics nourishes himself on

13. “Whoever despises the high wisdom of mathematics nourishes himself on delusion and will never still the sophistic sciences whose only product is an eternal uproar.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Mathematical Wisdom, Intellectual Delusion, Sophistic Sciences, Deluded Knowledge, Rational Thought

He turns not back who is bound to a star

14. “He turns not back who is bound to a star.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Unstoppable Pursuit, Star-bound, Relentless Journey, Ambitious Path, Determined Life

I am not to blame for putting forward in the

15. “I am not to blame for putting forward, in the course of my work on science, any general rule derived from a previous conclusion.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Scientific Method, Research Process, Rule Making, Logical Conclusion, Analytical Work

Abbreviators do harm to knowledge and to love

16. “Abbreviators do harm to knowledge and to love.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Abbreviation Harm, Knowledge Simplification, Love Loss, Shortened Thought, Intellectual Damage

Some promises and time disappoint us

17. “Some promises and time disappoint us.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Broken Promises, Time Disappointment, Expectations Fail, Unfulfilled Words, Promise Unmet

Men born in hot countries love the night because it

18. “Men born in hot countries love the night because it refreshes them and have a horror of light because it burns them.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Night Preference, Light Aversion, Cultural Difference, Heat Effects, Natural Preferences

Once you have tasted flight you will forever walk the

19. “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Flight Desire, Skyward Gaze, Longing for Freedom, Unforgettable Experience, Aerial Pursuit

Whoever in debate quotes authority uses not intellect but memory

20. “Whoever in debate quotes authority uses not intellect, but memory.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Authority Debate, Intellect Use, Memory Fallacy, Intellectual Discourse, Thought Leadership

All sciences are vain and full of errors that are

21. “All sciences are vain and full of errors that are not born of Experience, the mother of all Knowledge.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Scientific Errors, Experience Knowledge, Knowledge Limits, Error-filled Science, Learning Process

Fame alone raises herself to Heaven because virtuous things are

22. “Fame alone raises herself to Heaven, because virtuous things are in favour with God.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Fame Virtue, Divine Approval, Heavenly Fame, Moral Honor, Virtuous Life

Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose

23. “Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Purposeful Work, Intentional Action, Aligned Effort, Meaningful Task, Focused Purpose

When counting try not to mix chickens with blessings

24. “When counting, try not to mix chickens with blessings.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Practical Wisdom, Mixed Counting, Blessings vs Assets, Clear Thought, Life Clarity

In the days of thy youth seek to obtain that

25. “In the days of thy youth seek to obtain that which shall compensate the losses of thy old age.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Youthful Pursuit, Aging Wisdom, Life Compensation, Time Value, Future Planning

Vitality and beauty are gifts of Nature for those who

26. “Vitality and beauty are gifts of Nature for those who live according to its laws.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Natural Beauty, Vital Living, Law of Nature, Healthy Life, Nature's Gifts

It is better to imitate ancient than modern work

27. “It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Ancient Imitation, Artistic Tradition, Modern Work, Classical Influence, Timeless Art

Among the great things which are to be found among

28. “Among the great things which are to be found among us, the being of nothingness is the greatest.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Nothingness Concept, Greatness Paradox, Existential Reflection, Philosophical Truth, Conceptual Depth

It is a far worthier thing to read by the

29. “It is a far worthier thing to read by the light of experience than to adorn oneself with the labors of others.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Experience Value, Self-Knowledge, Learning Process, Independent Thought, Knowledge Pursuit

Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts never

30. “Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Endless Learning, Mind Growth, Intellectual Journey, Fearless Knowledge, Learning Power