50 Renaissance Quotes on the Era of Art & Culture
Published May 2, 2023
Learn about the time that took us from the Middle Ages toward the modern era with these Renaissance quotes!
The Renaissance Period is the time in European history following the Middle Ages, in the 15th and 16th centuries, when Europe transitioned toward modern times.
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An effort to surpass previous ideas and push for social change defined the Renaissance Period.
The Renaissance was pushed by humanism, which focused on the importance of human beings and their needs rather than divine or supernatural forces.
This period began in Florence, Italy, where the confluence of Greek scholars when various factors, such as the social and civic peculiarities of the area, led to widespread changes.
Look at these Renaissance quotes to learn more about the period.
Best Renaissance Quotes
Here are some popular quotes coming out of the Renaissance era.
1. “Art is the highest form of hope.” — Gerhard Richter
2. “Curiosity is the key to problem-solving.” — Galileo Galilei
3. “Nature never breaks her own laws.” — Leonardo da Vinci
4.“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — Leonardo da Vinci
5. “The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.” — Epicurus
6. “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” — Michel de Montaigne
7. “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” — William Shakespeare
8. “I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses.” — Johannes Kepler
9. “The Renaissance was a time when people began to think for themselves and to question the world around them.” — Francis Fukuyama
10. “The Renaissance was a time of transformation, a time when people began to see the world in a new way.” — Gertrude Himmelfarb
About the Renaissance Quotes
These quotes give you a glimpse into this famous period of history.
11. “To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.” — Cicero
12. “I’m not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.” — Niccolo Machiavelli
13. “The Renaissance was a time of rediscovery, of the classical world and of ourselves.” — Peter Greenaway
14. “He who does not know the truth is only a fool. But he who knows it and calls it a lie is a criminal.” — Galileo Galilei
15. “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science.” — Albert Einstein
16. “The Renaissance was a time of humanism when people began to focus on human achievement and potential.” — Francis Bacon
17. “The Renaissance was a time when humanity began to emerge from the intellectual darkness of the Middle Ages.” — David C. Cassidy
18. “The Renaissance was a time of transition from the medieval world to the modern world, marked by a revival of learning and culture.” — J.H. Plumb
19. “The Renaissance was a time of great intellectual and cultural rebirth that swept across Europe from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century.” — Anthony Grafton
20. “The era was characterized by a spirit of inquiry and a desire to understand the natural world through observation, experimentation, and reason.” — Steven Pinker
To learn more about history, read these Black Death quotes.
Renaissance Quotes for Artists
Enjoy these art quotes from some of the biggest names of the Renaissance.
21. “Art is the signature of civilizations.” — Beverly Sills
22. “I would like to paint the way a bird sings.” — Claude Monet
23. “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” — Leonardo da Vinci
24. “Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.” — Pablo Picasso
25. “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” — Banksy
26. “The painter has the universe in his mind and hands.” — Leonardo da Vinci
27. “Art is not a handicraft; it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced.” — Leo Tolstoy
28. “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.” — Michelangelo
29. “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” — Aristotle
30. “Art is the queen of all sciences communicating knowledge to all the generations of the world.” — Leonardo da Vinci
Inspirational Renaissance Quotes
Many find inspiration from quotes coming out of this era.
31. “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” — Edgar Degas
32. “We know what we are, but not what we may be.” — William Shakespeare
33. “We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” — Bertha Calloway
34. “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” — William Shakespeare
35. “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.” — Galileo Galilei
36. “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul and paints his own nature into his pictures.” — Henry Ward Beecher
37. “One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.” – Niccolo Machiavelli
38. “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” — William Shakespeare
39. “The Renaissance saw a shift in thinking, from blind acceptance of tradition to a willingness to question and explore the world around us.” — Lisa Randall
40. “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” — Leonardo da Vinci
Science and the Renaissance Quotes
There were significant leaps forward in science during the Renaissance period, as shown in these quotes.
41. “Nature uses as little as possible of anything.” — Johannes Kepler
42. “It was a time of great curiosity and experimentation, with a focus on empirical evidence and observation.” — Carl Sagan
43. “I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses.” — Johannes Kepler
44. “It was a time of great scientific innovation, with groundbreaking discoveries in fields such as anatomy, chemistry, and botany.” — Brian Greene
45. “The Renaissance was a time of great scientific and artistic achievement, a time when the world was changing rapidly.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson
46. “The Renaissance was a time of great progress, where scientific knowledge was valued and celebrated alongside art and literature.” — Jane Goodall
47. “It was a period of great scientific advancement, with scientists developing new tools and techniques to explore the mysteries of the universe.” — Alan Guth
48. “The Renaissance was a time when knowledge and ideas were shared across borders and cultures, leading to new discoveries and innovations.” — Michio Kaku
49. “It was a period of intense intellectual and artistic creativity, where scientists and artists worked together to advance knowledge and understanding.” — Bill Nye
50. “Nature is relentless and unchangeable, and it is indifferent as to whether its hidden reasons and actions are understandable to man or not.” — Galileo Galilei
What Changes Came Out of the Renaissance Period?
There were many changes during the Renaissance, but some of the best known are in art, culture, and humanism, where the focus on human beings started growing.
New inventions and technology led to more trade, wealth, and travel during this period.
Please share these Renaissance Quotes with your friends and post any comments about the Renaissance in the comment section below.
