--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to imitate ancient than…" description: "\"It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.\" — Leonardo da Vinci" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/leonardo-da-vinci-330_ancient_it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-mod_1807077.jpg" --- # It is better to imitate ancient than modern work. ![“It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.” quote by Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/leonardo-da-vinci-330_ancient_it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-mod_1807077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/leonardo-da-vinci-330_ancient_it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-mod_1807077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/leonardo-da-vinci-330_ancient_it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-mod_1807077.jpg) > “It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.” [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Valuing timeless techniques over fleeting trends highlights enduring wisdom in art and craft. **In simple terms:** Ancient methods often surpass modern ones. Key Takeaway Study classic works before chasing novelty. Themes tradition craft timelessness Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - art education - restoration - design projects Key Concepts Renaissance technique legacy Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate old and new methods? - What timeless principles guide your work? A Different Perspective Modern tools can enhance but not replace foundational skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-modern-1715844/) [Better Imitate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-imitate-2081977/) [Imitate Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitate-ancient-2081976/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Modern Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-work-2081978/) ## Related quotes > [I do not know where to find in any literature, whether ancient or modern, any adequate account of that Nature with which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-do-not-know-where-to-find-in-any-literature-whether-ancient-or/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“...it seemed a part of her life, to step from the ancient to the modern, back and forth. She felt rather sorry for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/it-seemed-a-part-of-her-life-to-step-from-the-ancient-to-the-modern/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [It is always better to imitate a successful man than to envy him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-is-always-better-to-imitate-a-successful-man-than-to-envy-him/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [There's no one better to imitate than Carly Fiorina when it comes to a successful woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/there-s-no-one-better-to-imitate-than-carly-fiorina-when-it-comes-to/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [It's a ridiculous function of modern work life that we can't just be sick, we then have to beat ourselves up about being sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katty-kay/it-s-a-ridiculous-function-of-modern-work-life-that-we-can-t-just-be/) [Katty Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katty-kay/) > [The modern work of art, as I have said, is a symbol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/the-modern-work-of-art-as-i-have-said-is-a-symbol/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [“The trouble is, the modern work paradigm gives us so little sense of completion or clear space that it feels like we’re constantly straining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-allcott/the-trouble-is-the-modern-work-paradigm-gives-us-so-little-sense-of/) [Graham Allcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-allcott/) > [The integral vision embodies an attempt to take the best of both worlds, ancient and modern. But that demands a critical stance willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/the-integral-vision-embodies-an-attempt-to-take-the-best-of-both/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [From ancient to modern times, the human animal knows how to find fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-meltzer/from-ancient-to-modern-times-the-human-animal-knows-how-to-find/) [Brad Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-meltzer/) > [Ancient philosophy proposed to mankind an art of living. 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If I was an atheist and believed in blind… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contributed-more-to-civilize-men-than/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Perhaps these ancient observatories like Stonehenge perennially impress modern people because modern people have no idea how the Sun, Moon, or stars move. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/perhaps-these-ancient-observatories-like-stonehenge-perennially/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [If we look to the history of other nations, ancient or modern, we find no example of a growth so rapid, so gigantic, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/if-we-look-to-the-history-of-other-nations-ancient-or-modern-we-find/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by Leonardo da Vinci > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/a-painter-should-begin-every-canvas-with-a-wash-of-black-because-all/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Nothing can be love or hated unless it is first known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/nothing-can-be-love-or-hated-unless-it-is-first-known/) [Leonardo Da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [An arch consists of two weaknesses which, leaning one against the other, make a strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/an-arch-consists-of-two-weaknesses-which-leaning-one-against-the/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [But to me all sciences seem vain and full of error that are not born of experience, mother of all certainty, and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/but-to-me-all-sciences-seem-vain-and-full-of-error-that-are-not-born/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“Time stays long enough for those who use it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/time-stays-long-enough-for-those-who-use-it/) [Leonardo Da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Be a mirror, absorb everything around you and still remain the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/be-a-mirror-absorb-everything-around-you-and-still-remain-the-same/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Your brain is much better than you think; just use it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/your-brain-is-much-better-than-you-think-just-use-it/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Necessity is a guardian in Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/necessity-is-a-guardian-in-nature/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does nature because in her inventions nothing is lacking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/human-subtlety-will-never-devise-an-invention-more-beautiful-more/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/people-reveal-themselves-completely-only-when-they-are-thrown-out-of/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [To be a winner you must want to win but must know of the chance of losing and must not fear of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/to-be-a-winner-you-must-want-to-win-but-must-know-of-the-chance-of/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Nature is so delightful and abundant in its variations that among trees of the same kind there would not be found one which nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/nature-is-so-delightful-and-abundant-in-its-variations-that-among/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Wisdom is the daughter of experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/wisdom-is-the-daughter-of-experience/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) [Explore all 664 Leonardo da Vinci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonardo da Vinci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-modern-work/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ancient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-modern-work/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/leonardo-da-vinci-330_ancient_it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-mod_1807077.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/leonardo-da-vinci-330_ancient_it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-mod_1807077.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/leonardo-da-vinci-330_ancient_it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-mod_1807077.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.” — Leonardo da Vinci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leonardo da Vinci", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is better to imitate ancient...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-modern-work/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-better-to-imitate-ancient-than-modern-work/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```