The painter who draws merely by practice and by eye, without any reason, is like a mirror which copies every thing placed in front of it without bein… - Leonardo da Vinci

Las ostras se abren por completo cuando hay Luna llena; y cuando los cangrejos ven una ostra abierta, tiran dentro de ella una piedrita o un trozo de alga, a fin de que la ostra no pueda volver a cerrarse y el cangrejo pueda devorarla. Este es también el destino de quien abre demasiado la boca, con lo cual se pone a merced del que lo escucha.

Mathematics, such as appertain to painting, are necessary to the painter, also the absence of companions who are alien to his studies: his brain must be versatile and susceptible to the variety of objects which it encounters, and free from distracting cares.

Subito salse in me due cose: paura e desiderio: paura per la minacciante e scura spelonca, desiderio per vedere se là entro fusse alcuna miracolosa cosa. (Ancient Italian)