---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though I may not . . . be able to quote…"
description: "\"Though I may not . . . be able to quote other authors, I shall rely on that which is much greater and more worthy - on experience.\" — Leonardo da Vinci"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/leonardo-da-vinci-330_able_though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other_2632291.jpg"
---

#  Though I may not . . . be able to quote other authors, I…

![“Though I may not . . . be able to quote other authors, I shall rely on that which is much greater and more worthy - on experience.” quote by Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/leonardo-da-vinci-330_able_though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other_2632291.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/leonardo-da-vinci-330_able_though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other_2632291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/leonardo-da-vinci-330_able_though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other_2632291.jpg)

> “Though I may not . . . be able to quote other authors, I shall rely on that which is much greater and more worthy - on experience.”

[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.

Experience outweighs scholarly citation; personal insight holds greater value than external references.

**In simple terms:** Experience &gt; quotes.

Key Takeaway

Trust your own experience.

Themes

experience wisdom authenticity self‑reliance

Mood

curious reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- education
- creative work
- decision making

Key Concepts

Learning personal insight

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance experience with study?
- When is external knowledge essential?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on experience may ignore valuable research.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Able Quote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-quote-367750/) [Authors Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authors-shall-1015592/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [I may not be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-may-not-be/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Quote Authors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quote-authors-1015590/) [Rely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rely/) [Rely Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rely-greater-2199338/) [Shall Rely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-rely-2199339/) [Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy/)

## Related quotes

> [“They will say that I, having no literary skill, cannot properly express that which I desire to treat of, but they do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci-reproductions/they-will-say-that-i-having-no-literary-skill-cannot-properly-express/)

[Leonardo Da Vinci Reproductions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci-reproductions/)

> [Do not accept what you hear by report, do not accept tradition, do not accept a statement because it is found in our books,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/do-not-accept-what-you-hear-by-report-do-not-accept-tradition-do-not/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [In quoting of books, quote such authors as are usually read; others you may read for your own satisfaction, but not name them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/in-quoting-of-books-quote-such-authors-as-are-usually-read-others-you/)

[John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/)

> [ “\[E\]very man hath liberty to write, but few ability. Heretofore learning was graced by judicious scholars, but now noble sciences are vilified by base… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/e-very-man-hath-liberty-to-write-but-few-ability-heretofore-learning/)

[Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/)

> [For the future, I shall rely only upon those elements of my character which I have tested. Who would ever have said that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/for-the-future-i-shall-rely-only-upon-those-elements-of-my-character/)

[Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/)

> [I feel privileged that I've been able to get anywhere, with my quote-unquote limited mainstream appeal, given my race and subject matter. Of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-feel-privileged-that-i-ve-been-able-to-get-anywhere-with-my-quote/)

[Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/)

> [Next to being witty, the best thing is being able to quote another's wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/next-to-being-witty-the-best-thing-is-being-able-to-quote-another-s/)

[Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/)

> [The next best thing to being clever is being able to quote someone who is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pettibone-poole/the-next-best-thing-to-being-clever-is-being-able-to-quote-someone/)

[Mary Pettibone Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pettibone-poole/)

> [The next best thing to being witty one's self, is to be able to be able to quote another's wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/the-next-best-thing-to-being-witty-one-s-self-is-to-be-able-to-be/)

[Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/)

> [It is a pleasure to be able to quote lines to fit any occasion...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-a-pleasure-to-be-able-to-quote-lines-to-fit-any-occasion/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Next to being witty yourself, the best thing is being able to quote another's wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nevell-bovee/next-to-being-witty-yourself-the-best-thing-is-being-able-to-quote/)

[Christian Nevell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nevell-bovee/)

> [I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-inglis-anderson/i-am-responsible-although-i-may-not-be-able-to-prevent-the-worst-from/)

[Walter Inglis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-inglis-anderson/)

> [While I may not be able to describe to you exactly what enlightenment is like, I can tell you that it is wonderful beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/while-i-may-not-be-able-to-describe-to-you-exactly-what-enlightenment/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [I may not be the bestest pitcher in the world, but I sure out-cutes 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satchel-paige/i-may-not-be-the-bestest-pitcher-in-the-world-but-i-sure-out-cutes-em/)

[Satchel Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satchel-paige/)

> [If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don't. If you'd like to win but think you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-think-you-are-beaten-you-are-if-you-think-you-dare-not-you-don/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

## 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 Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

[Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/)

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

[Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Though I may not . . . be able to quote other authors, I shall rely on that which is much greater and more worthy - on experience.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leonardo da Vinci"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other-authors-i-shall-rely-on-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other-authors-i-shall-rely-on-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/leonardo-da-vinci-330_able_though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other_2632291.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/leonardo-da-vinci-330_able_though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other_2632291.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/leonardo-da-vinci-330_able_though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other_2632291.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Though I may not . . . be able to quote other authors, I shall rely on that which is much greater and more…” — 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": "Though I may not . ....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other-authors-i-shall-rely-on-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/though-i-may-not-be-able-to-quote-other-authors-i-shall-rely-on-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
