“The solar rays will kindle fire on the earth, by which a thing that is under the sky will be set on fire, and, being reflected by some obstacle, it will bend downwards.”

—  Leonardo Da Vinci

The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (1883), XX Humorous Writings

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Sept. 27, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "The solar rays will kindle fire on the earth, by which a thing that is under the sky will be set on fire, and, being re…" by Leonardo Da Vinci?
Leonardo Da Vinci photo
Leonardo Da Vinci363
Italian Renaissance polymath 1452–1519

Related quotes

Marguerite Bourgeoys photo

“It seems to me that we are charcoal ready to be kindled and that Holy Communion is entirely suited to set us on fire. But when this charcoal is kindled only on the surface, as soon as it is set aside, it is extinguished. On the contrary, that which is fired all the way to the centre is not extinguished, but is consumed.”

Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620–1700) French colonist and foundress

The Writings of Marguerite Bourgeoys, p. 204

Sallustius photo

“Of the bodies in the cosmos, some imitate mind and move in orbits; some imitate soul and move in a straight line, fire and air upward, earth and water downward.”

Sallustius Roman philosopher and writer

VII. On the Nature of the World and its Eternity.
On the Gods and the Cosmos

B. W. Powe photo

“Electrical fire and the fire of greed kindle economies.”

B. W. Powe (1955) Canadian writer

Interlude, p. 75
Towards a Canada of Light (2006)
Context: Electrical fire and the fire of greed kindle economies. In that flux, nations become digitized commodities on stock-exchange floors and on investors' rating screens. A country becomes a product to be rated for its obedience to paying of deficits and debts.

Vitruvius photo

“Fir: it contains a great deal of air and fire with very little moisture and the earthy, so that, as its natural properties are of the lighter class, it is not heavy. Hence, its consistence being naturally stiff, it does not easily bend under the load, and keeps its straightness when used in the framework. But it contains so much heat that it generates and encourages decay, which spoils it; and it also kindles fire quickly because of the air in its body, which is so open that it takes in fire and so gives out a great flame.”

Vitruvius book De architectura

Source: De architectura (The Ten Books On Architecture) (~ 15BC), Book II, Chapter IX, Sec. 6

Isaac Asimov photo

“A fire eater must eat fire even if he has to kindle it himself.”

Isaac Asimov book Foundation

Source: The Foundation series (1951–1993), Foundation (1951), Part III, The Mayors, section 9

Plutarch photo

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”

Plutarch (46–127) ancient Greek historian and philosopher

“Sky and sea, keep harm from me. Earth and fire, bring… my desire.”

L.J. Smith (1965) American author

Source: The Initiation / The Captive Part I

Robert Barron (bishop) photo

“Barron, Bishop Robert. To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming the Gospel in a Secular Age (p. 78). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.”

Robert Barron (bishop) (1959) priest of the Roman Catholic Church, author, scholar and Catholic evangelist.

“Thou living ray of intellectual fire.”

William Falconer (1732–1769) British writer

Canto I, line 104.
The Shipwreck (1762)

George Herbert photo

“676. A little wind kindles, much puts out the fire.”

George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh-born English poet, orator and Anglican priest

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

Related topics