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The worst evil which can befall the artist is that his work should appear good in his own eyes.
Leonardo Da Vinci
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Interpretation

What this quote means

An artist should strive for self-awareness and critical evaluation of their work.

Leonardo da Vinci highlights the danger that artists face when they become complacent and believe that their work is without fault. This quote suggests that true artistic growth comes from a critical appreciation of one's own work, rather than self-satisfaction, which can hinder improvement and creativity.

Themes

ArtistSelf-AwarenessComplacencyGrowthArtisticEvaluation

In practice

Example use cases

During an art critique session, I shared, 'The worst evil which can befall the artist is that his work should appear good in his own eyes.'

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Vitality and beauty are gifts of Nature for those who live according to its laws.
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For, verily, great love springs from great knowledge of the beloved object, and if you little know it, you will be able to love it only little or not at all.
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It is a far worthier thing to read by the light of experience than to adorn oneself with the labors of others.
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