Leonardo da Vinci

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.

I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.

Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else.

Life well spent is long.

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. 

As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death. 

There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, those who do not see. 

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

The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions. 

Experience does not err. Only your judgments err by expecting from her what is not in her power.