Leon Battista Alberti

thumb| Leon Battista Alberti (14 February 1404 – 25 April 1472) was an Italian Renaissance humanist author, artist, architect, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher, and cryptographer; he epitomised the nature of those identified now as polymaths. He is considered the founder of European cryptography, a claim he shares with Johannes Trithemius. Quotes Dictionary of Quotations: French and Italian (1904) Quotes reported in Thomas Benfield Harbottle and Philip Hugh Dalbiac, Dictionary of Quotations: French and Italian (1904) Anche le persone ben sensate, quando voglion penetrare i secreti Divini, si fanno simili a i bambini. Even sensible people, when they attempt to penetrate the secrets of the Divinity, become as little children. Favole, "Il Fanciullo, i Raggi del Sole, e l'Ombra" P. 251 È necessario di conoscere il forte ed il debole del suo nemico, prima di venir con esso a cimento. It is necessary to know the strong and the weak points of one's adversary, before coming to close quarters with him. Favole, "Il Cane ed il Toro" P. 295 L'invidia è punita dall' invidia medesima. Envy is punished by envy itself. Favole, "L'Invidioso e il Fuoco" P. 336 La gloria d'aver meritato un grand' onore è la ricompensa d'una grand' anima. The glory of having deserved great honour is the recompense of a great soul. Favole, "Il Leone e l'Invidia" P. 343 Le doti dateci dalla natura dobbiamo noi riverire ed accrescerle con l'industria, con lo studio, e con l'esercizio. We should respect the gifts that nature gives us, and seek to add to them by industry, study and practice. Della Pittura, Book III P. 352 Nè cosa alcuna è che adombri più la verità, quanto fa la autorità. Nothing overshadows truth more completely than authority. Del Principe, Book III P. 363 External links Category:Poets from Italy Category:Architects from Italy Category:Mathematicians from Italy Category:Painters from Italy Category:Philosophers from Italy Category:Roman Catholic priests Category:Sculptors from Italy Category:Non-fiction authors from Italy Category:Catholics from Italy Category:1404 births Category:1472 deaths