“Each man is always in the middle of the surface of the earth and under the zenith of his own hemisphere, and over the centre of the earth.”
- April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519
- Italian
- A versatile man (painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, scientist, etc.)
- He created many works of art, including the paintings “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” and also left behind many pioneering ideas in science and engineering, such as “blueprints for airplanes” and “anatomical studies.”
Quote
“Each man is always in the middle of the surface of the earth and under the zenith of his own hemisphere, and over the centre of the earth.”
Explanation
In this quote, Leonardo da Vinci reflects on the concept of perspective and the centrality of the human experience. Da Vinci highlights that no matter where we stand on Earth, we are always in a unique relationship to the world around us. Each person is at the center of their own experience, marked by their position on the surface of the Earth. The reference to being “under the zenith” emphasizes that we are directly beneath the point in the sky that is directly above us, and the phrase “over the center of the Earth” reinforces the idea that, from our personal perspective, we are always oriented to the center of the planet. This points to the subjectivity of perception: while the Earth is vast and everyone occupies different locations, our understanding of the world is inherently centered on our own position.
Historically, Da Vinci’s thinking in this quote aligns with the Renaissance’s focus on humanism, which emphasized the individual as the center of knowledge and experience. During this time, scholars and artists were grappling with ideas about geocentrism versus heliocentrism, and Da Vinci’s studies in astronomy and geography reflect a curiosity about the structure of the Earth and the universe. The recognition of one’s personal position in the world is also deeply philosophical, reflecting the Renaissance’s shift towards understanding human beings’ place in the cosmos.
In modern terms, this idea highlights the way in which each person, despite being just one individual in a vast world, sees themselves as the center of their own universe. This quote can apply to the study of geography and astronomy, as well as to modern concepts of perspective in philosophy and psychology. It underscores the subjective nature of experience, reminding us that, while we are all part of a much larger world, our perceptions and actions are always shaped by our own position and viewpoint on Earth. Da Vinci’s insight encourages us to consider how we interpret the world through our own experiences and how that affects our understanding of both our place in the world and the world itself.
