Leonardo da Vinci Quotes

The memory of benefits is a frail defence against ingratitude.

If you meet with any one who is virtuous do not drive him from you; do him honour, so that he may not have to flee from you and be reduced to hiding in hermitages, or caves or other solitary places to escape from your treachery; if there is such an one among you do him honour, for these are our Saints upon earth; these are they who deserve statues from us, and images...

Constancy does not begin, but is that which perseveres.

Nuestra vida está hecha de la muerte de otros

The variety of colour in objects cannot be discerned at a great distance, excepting in those parts which are directly lighted up by the solar rays.

This writing distinctly about the kite seems to be my destiny, because among the first recollections of my infancy, it seemed to me that, as I was in my cradle, a kite came to me and opened my mouth with its tail, and struck me several times with its tail inside my lips.

Truth here makes Falsehood torment lying tongues.

How may paintings have preserved the image of a divine beauty which in its natural manifestation has been rapidly overtaken by time or death. Thus, the work of the painter is nobler than that of nature, its mistress.

In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes: so with time present.

A bird makes the same use of wings and tail in the air as a swimmer does of his arms and legs in the water.

Dimmi, dimmi se mai fu fatta cosa alcuna

It's not enough that you believe what you see. You must also understand what you see.

Just as courage imperils life, fear protects it.

Do not reveal, if liberty is precious to you; my face is the prison of love.

O neglectful Nature, wherefore art thou thus partial, becoming to some of thy children a tender and benignant mother, to others a most cruel and ruthless stepmother? I see thy children given into slavery to others without ever receiving any benefit, and in lieu of any reward for the services they have done for them they are repaid by the severest punishments.