omo sanza lettere - Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo referred to himself as "omo sanza lettere." Depending on the source, this is translated as:

• man without education


• guy who didn't learn Latin


• craftsman, not scholar

and probably a few other variations ranging from literal to metaphorical.

Whatever the meaning of the phrase, Leonardo clearly was a sponge for learning. He is the seminal "Renaissance Man." His notebooks and works of art, mechanics, architecture, and medical invention testify to a mind continually seeking to understand new topics. What a good dinner party guest he would have made, had he possessed any social skills.

Wired news has a story about the current display of Leonardo's Codex Trivulzianus in Milan. This notebook dates from the late 1400s, and is filled with drawings, mirror writing, and even loads of Latin terms. View some pages here.

Let's hear it for lifelong learning, for exploring on one's own instead of sitting in a classroom.

Disclaimer: I serve on the board of directors of da Vinci Days, an annual three-day community festival celebrating art, science, and technology. Da Vinci Days takes place the third weekend of July in Corvallis, Oregon.

Comments

[Paul]

Great site, I love Leonardo Da Vinci too!