734 Quotes by Leonardo da Vinci

Test knowledge through experience, be prepared to make mistakes, and be persistent about it.

All the bystanders at an event worthy of note adopt various gestures of admiration when contemplating the occurrence.

Although human ingenuity may devise various inventions which, by the help of various instruments, answer to one and the same purpose, yet will it never discover any inventions more beautiful, more simple or more practical than those of nature, because in her inventions there is nothing lacking and nothing superfluous; and she makes use of no counterpoise when she constructs the limbs of animals in such a way as to correspond to the motion of their bodies, but she puts into them the soul of the body.

Art is never finished, only abandoned.

The discovery of a good wine is increasingly better for mankind than the discovery of a new star.

The painter who has no doubt about his own ability will attain very little.

Why seek to embarrass [the artist] with vanities foreign to his quietness? Know you not that certain sciences require the whole man, leaving no part of him at leisure for your trifles?

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

In time and with water, everything changes.