Leonardo da Vinci
Seven Principles for cultivating Genius in Everyday Life
I was eight years old when I visited Leonardo’s birthplace in Vinci, near Florence. And I was sixteen when, together with my father, I climbed the steep mule track that leads from Fiesole to the top of Monte Ceceri. From this hill, 415 meters high, one could admire a beautiful panorama of Florence and much of the Arno River valley. I remember it was the height of summer, the heat was oppressive, and on a sun-faded sign, I read for the first time the legend of Leonardo's flying machine. According to tradition, around 1506, Leonardo had his friend Tommaso Masini—nicknamed "Zoroastro"—test a prototype of a machine inspired by the flight of birds. And for this, he chose Monte Ceceri as the launch site. It is said that, having leapt from the hill, Zoroastro glided for over a thousand meters, finally crashing near Fiesole and breaking both legs. Now, regardless of the fact that this episode is almost certainly false, I was deeply struck by the lesson of the story as a young boy, which would be this: beyond everything, and against every possible negative prediction, pursue your truth, try and try again, never discouraging yourself, until you achieve what you desire.
Leonardo, born in Vinci in 1452, was a multifaceted genius and a complex figure. The illegitimate son of the notary Ser Piero and Caterina (probably a Circassian slave), he was ambidextrous from birth, and thanks to a natural predisposition for drawing, he became an apprentice to the Florentine painter Verrocchio at an early age. His life and works were influenced by an insatiable curiosity and a dedication to continuous learning. Michael J. Gelb, in his book How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci (2000), identified seven key principles that embody Leonardo's genius and can be applied to everyday life.
Curiosity: Leonardo was known for his 360-degree thirst for knowledge. His "to-do lists" ranged from mathematical questions to hydraulic research. His curiosity even led him to dissect over thirty human bodies to fully understand anatomy. The lesson you, as a reader of these words, should take is: cultivate an insatiable curiosity and never take anything for granted. Ask fundamental questions ("Why?" "How does it work?") and be open to exploring fields of knowledge beyond your own, as deep understanding often arises from the interconnection of disciplines. Never stop learning.
Demonstration: Leonardo believed in the importance of verifying knowledge through experience. He was a "disciple of experience" and claimed that sciences were vain without it. One example is his experimental technique for painting The Last Supper (mixing tempera and oil on plaster instead of adopting the traditional fresco). The moral of the story: do not accept knowledge passively, but seek to verify it through practical experience. Be tenacious in the face of challenges and do not fear making mistakes; consider errors as valuable opportunities for learning and adaptation rather than definitive failures.
Sensation: Leonardo emphasized the importance of refining the senses, especially sight. He believed that the average person looks without seeing and listens without hearing. His ability to observe minute details is evident in his works. If you want to take inspiration from this principle, cultivate sensory awareness. Pay attention to the details of the world around you, not just with your eyes but with all your senses. This will help you perceive reality in a richer way and discover new nuances and inspirations.
Sfumato: This principle concerns the acceptance of ambiguity and uncertainty. Many of Leonardo's works remained unfinished, reflecting his openness to the complexity and mystery of life. The lesson to be learned is simple: accept that not everything must be perfectly defined or "completed." Sometimes, leaving room for ambiguity and uncertainty can allow for greater depth, evolution, and openness to new interpretations, both in ideas and projects. Learn to navigate complexity without the need for immediate resolution.
Art/Science: Leonardo integrated science and art, logic and imagination. His map of Imola for Cesare Borgia (1502) is an example of how he combined cartographic precision with artistic sensitivity. If you want to benefit from Leonardo's experience, remember to integrate logic and creativity into every aspect of your life. Do not rigidly separate analytical thinking from imaginative thinking. Great innovations often arise when different perspectives are combined, drawing on both scientific rigor and artistic vision.
Body Awareness: Leonardo cultivated grace, ambidexterity, and physical fitness. He was known for his physical strength and his extensive anatomical studies, which aimed to understand the body as a coordinated system. Pay attention to your physical well-being and body awareness. Stay active and develop new physical skills. Recognize how health and bodily balance influence your mind and ability to think and create, and how the body is a fundamental vehicle for self-expression.
Connection: Leonardo saw the interconnection of all things. The Vitruvian Man is a perfect example of how he linked human proportions to geometric proportions, uniting man with the universe. The most important lesson to be learned is to adopt a holistic perspective: seek to identify connections and analogies between phenomena, ideas, and people that at first glance seem unrelated. Understanding the web of relationships between things can lead to deep insights and innovative solutions that escape a sectoral approach.
The life and works of Leonardo continue to inspire and offer valuable lessons to anyone wishing to expand their mental and creative horizons. Betty Edwards, in her famous book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (1979), explored brain plasticity and the functioning of the two hemispheres in relation to creativity and learning. The cerebral hemispheres are like two team members, each with their own playing style. The left hemisphere is the rational thinker, the lover of words and numbers, the one that analyses every detail and organizes information logically. The right hemisphere, on the other hand, is the dreamer, the creative one, perceiving the world intuitively and visually. It is the master of images, emotions, and deep connections. According to Betty Edwards, many people tend to favour the left hemisphere because society places greater value on logical and analytical thinking. But training the right hemisphere, following Leonardo's example of curiosity and open-mindedness, can help cultivate one's own genius. The secret probably lies in maintaining a dynamic and never passive approach to the inputs you receive. In fact, elusiveness is the most distinctive trait of Genius. Everyone surely has their own personal inclinations, but Leonardo's case shows what can be achieved by stimulating the interconnection between the logical and the creative plane. So, it’s not impossible! Trying to reconcile one's deepest faculties, embracing the complexity of the world and the perceptions our brain draws from it, may be enough to reveal our own "inner Genius." And who better than you—the one reading—could truly understand yourself? Just try it, for once: throw yourself into the fray and experience first-hand the possibilities of continuous becoming. Leonardo knew this perfectly well, as he wrote in one of his most famous aphorisms:
"Experience is a more reliable guide than the words of others."
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