Leonardo Da Vinci

Those who are enamoured of practice without science are like a pilot who goes into a ship without rudder or compass and never has any certainty of where he is going. Practice should always be based upon a sound knowledge of theory.

It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall be a cause of suffering, and they shall possess neither the profit nor the beauty of the world.

The body of the earth is of the nature of a fish... because it draws water as its breath instead of air.

The lie is so vile, that even if it were in speaking well of godly things, it would take off something from God's grace; and Truth is so excellent, that if it praises but small things they become noble.

You grow in reputation like bread in the hands of a child.

Nothing is more apt to deceive us than our own judgment of our work. We derive more benefit from having our faults pointed out by our enemies than from hearing the opinions of friends.

How painting surpasses all human works by reason of the subtle possibilities which it contains.

Necessity is the mistress and guide of nature.

Feathers shall raise men even as they do birds towards heaven :- That is by letters written with their quills.

The desire to know is natural to good men.

He who never puts his trust in any man will never be deceived.

The water which rises in the mountains is the blood which keeps the mountain in life.

In time and with water, everything changes.

When you put your hand in a flowing stream, you touch the last that has gone before and the first of what is still to come.

A day will come in which men will look upon an animal's murder the same way they look today upon a man's murder.

Among the great things which are found among us the existence of Nothing is the greatest.

Nature is full of infinite causes that have never occurred in experience.

The lover is moved by the beloved object as the senses are by sensual objects; and they unite and become one and the same thing. The work is the first thing born of this union; if the thing loved is base the lover becomes base.

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.

Love, Fear, and Esteem, - Write these on three stones.

One's thoughts turn towards Hope.