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| Self-portrait by Leonardo da Vinci |
A Hero's Conscience
I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.
- Leonardo da Vinci
"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection." This section of the quote describes a person very different from the one described in Quotation #2. In Quotation #2, a person who has been affected deals with their disturbed past by becoming the villain themselves.. But this quote deals with someone who smiles through their trouble, gains strength from a distress and becomes braver when they think about their past. The complete opposite of a villain is a hero. Leonardo da Vinci is describing a hero...
"'Tis the business of little minds to shrink..." This section might be stating that the person he describes in the first sentence is not commonly found. If it's the business of something, it is the natural order. Maybe that means the more common route of a person dealing with trauma is to become a person who creates the trauma in someone else's life. "...but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." When he says their heart is firm, it is a metaphor for them having a strong sense of themselves and what they believe in. When their conscience approves their conduct, it means their actions are reflecting what their conscience tells them is right. These uncommon people will pursue their principles unto death. I think what he is saying is that they will always follow their conscience...
Leonardo da Vinci is considered to be one of the most diversely talented people to have ever lived. He was a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer. He lived from 1452 through 1519. Although he lived so long ago, his quote is still valid in our society today. This quote is so important to this side of my tapestry concept because it reflects the conscience of a hero. We admire them and aspire to be like a hero, but it is hard to understand just what made them decide to commit a heroic act. This quote in comparison to the other one, implies that it is the way a person deals with an issue or traumatic event in their past, that determines their fate as a hero or a villian...
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