--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One can have no smaller or greater…" description: "\"One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.\" — Leonardo da Vinci" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/leonardo-da-vinci-330_art_one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-maste_235085.jpg" --- # One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of… ![“One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.” quote by Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/leonardo-da-vinci-330_art_one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-maste_235085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/leonardo-da-vinci-330_art_one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-maste_235085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/leonardo-da-vinci-330_art_one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-maste_235085.jpg) > “One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.” [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. Self‑mastery is the highest form of mastery, surpassing any external skill or achievement. **In simple terms:** Control yourself is ultimate mastery. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑discipline. Themes self‑mastery philosophy personal growth Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - athletics - creative work - daily routines Key Concepts virtue self‑control inner excellence Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure progress in self‑mastery? - What habits support inner control? A Different Perspective Self‑mastery alone does not guarantee external success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Greater Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-mastery-2370132/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery/) [Mastery Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery-mastery-572731/) [Mastery Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery-oneself-2370131/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) [Self mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-mastery/) ## Related quotes > [“One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself. —LEONARDO DA VINCI In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-mastery-than-mastery-of-oneself-2/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [The frequent employment of one's will power masters all organs of movement and trains them to perform feats which otherwise would have been difficult,painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hackenschmidt/the-frequent-employment-of-one-s-will-power-masters-all-organs-of/) [George Hackenschmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hackenschmidt/) > [“He had complete mastery of her, a mastery she welcomed as the tiny tremors low in her belly started, signaling her impending climax.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-monsch/he-had-complete-mastery-of-her-a-mastery-she-welcomed-as-the-tiny/) [Danielle Monsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-monsch/) > [Creativity follows mastery, so mastery of skills is the first priority for young talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-bloom/creativity-follows-mastery-so-mastery-of-skills-is-the-first-priority/) [Benjamin Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-bloom/) > [“An act of mastery is mastery itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehya-sky/an-act-of-mastery-is-mastery-itself/) [Tehya Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehya-sky/) > [Self-mastery is the challenge of transforming yourself from own worst enemy into your greatest ally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/self-mastery-is-the-challenge-of-transforming-yourself-from-own-worst/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [There are no mistakes in life, only lessons. There is no such thing as a negative experience, only opportunities to grow, learn and advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-no-mistakes-in-life-only-lessons-there-is-no-such-thing-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Rulers are not anointed. They are created by the void of self-mastery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/rulers-are-not-anointed-they-are-created-by-the-void-of-self-mastery/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [All who become men of power reach their estate by the same self-mastery, the same self-adjustment to circumstances, the same voluntary exercise and discipline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/all-who-become-men-of-power-reach-their-estate-by-the-same-self/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [The price that must be paid for mastery is discipline. No one achieves lasting success without it. So from the moment you awake each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-crow/the-price-that-must-be-paid-for-mastery-is-discipline-no-one-achieves/) [Robin Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-crow/) > [Mastery experiences are those achievements where you know that it was your hard work and effort that brought about success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/mastery-experiences-are-those-achievements-where-you-know-that-it-was/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [“Personal mastery begins by increasing our awareness about who we truly are, our strengths, limitations... Personal mastery can be achieved not only by being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/personal-mastery-begins-by-increasing-our-awareness-about-who-we/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) > [Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/being-human-we-would-expel-from-our-lives-physical-pain-and-mental/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonardo da Vinci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-mastery-than-mastery-of-oneself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-mastery-than-mastery-of-oneself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/leonardo-da-vinci-330_art_one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-maste_235085.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/leonardo-da-vinci-330_art_one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-maste_235085.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/leonardo-da-vinci-330_art_one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-maste_235085.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.” — 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": "One can have no smaller or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-mastery-than-mastery-of-oneself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/one-can-have-no-smaller-or-greater-mastery-than-mastery-of-oneself/#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 } } ] } ```