“Tears come from the heart and not from the brain.”
- 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
“Tears come from the heart and not from the brain.”
Explanation
In this quote, Leonardo da Vinci reflects on the emotional nature of tears, suggesting that they are not merely a physical or biological response generated by the brain, but rather an expression of the heart—the seat of our deepest emotions. Tears, in da Vinci’s view, arise from emotional experiences, often triggered by love, sorrow, or joy, rather than by purely rational thought. The heart, symbolizing feeling, is the true source of tears, making them a deeply personal and emotional release.
Historically, this idea aligns with the Renaissance conception of the human being as a union of body and spirit, where emotions were seen as integral to understanding the full depth of human experience. While the brain was recognized for its role in thought and reasoning, the heart was often viewed as the center of human emotion, a theme that is common in literature, philosophy, and art during this period. Artists like da Vinci, who delved into human anatomy, understood that emotion could manifest physically, but they also recognized the profound distinction between cognitive thought and emotional expression.
In the modern context, this quote reminds us of the biological and psychological aspects of emotion. Research in psychology and neurobiology shows that emotions can trigger physical reactions—like crying—through the autonomic nervous system, which connects our emotional responses to physical expressions. Da Vinci’s insight suggests that while tears might have physiological causes, they are deeply tied to our emotional states. In today’s world, we often speak of “tears of joy” or “tears of sorrow,” recognizing that our emotions, whether positive or negative, can bring about a physical release that connects us to our innermost feelings. This quote emphasizes the power of emotion and how it transcends pure reason, revealing the depth of human experience.
