Why Leonardo Da Vinci Was A Loser (And What That Means For You)

Why Leonardo Da Vinci Was A Loser (And What That Means For You)
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Alright, we know what you're thinking: how dare we call Leonardo da Vinci a loser!

Well, if you'll hold on for just a second, you'll not only understand the basis for such a seemingly outrageous claim, but may even feel better in your own endeavors after watching this video above from Delve that provides a history lesson and unique perspective on the legendary Renaissance artist, engineer, scientist and more.

For instance, did you realize Leonardo struggled professionally in his 20's and 30's? Were you aware Leonardo didn't 'get his big break' and gain major acclaim in his own life until he finished The Last Supper at the age of 46-years-old? Yeah, that's right.

Along with da Vinci, the video highlights other notables who saw success a bit later in their lives, such as Michael Faraday, Marcel Proust, Ulysses S. Grant and more.

So the next time you feel pressure to succeed quickly in your own career pursuits remember good ol' Leo and that the sweetest successes come with years and years and years of hard work.

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Before You Go

Leonardo Da Vinci Fun Facts
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1. Leonardo Da Vinci was a committed vegetarian at a time when this choice was highly unusual. A 2010 study suggests that his nonconformist culinary decisions possibly contributed to his stroke.Image:Last Supper1495-1498 (credit:Wikimedia Commons)
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2. Da Vinci was the first person to explain why the sky is blue. (Light scattering, duh.) Image:Lady with an Ermineoil on panel (credit:Wikipedia Commons)
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3. Leonardo Da Vinci was ambidextrous, meaning he could write forward with one hand and backward with the other. Image:The Virgin and Child with St. Annefrom 1500 until 1513 (credit:Wikimedia Commons)
(04 of10)
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4. Leonardo Da Vinci was also dyslexic, and had trouble reading, writing and spelling. (Luckily his drawing skills weren't too shabby.)Image:Vitruvian Man (credit:Wikimedia Commons)
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5. Mona Lisa is mostly happy, a little bit disgusted. Discovery Magazine reported on research on the painted lady's notoriously coy expression. Apparently "researchers at the University of Amsterdam and the University of Illinois used face-recognition software to determine that the Mona Lisa is 83% happy, 9% disgusted, 6% fearful, and 2% angry."Image:Mona Lisabetween 1503 and 1505 (credit:Wikimedia Commons)
(06 of10)
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6. The devoted artist took his interest in the mechanics of the human body to a new level by dissecting human cadavers to best understand how the human body operates. Image:Studies of Embryos (credit:Wikimedia Commons)
(07 of10)
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7. Leonardo Da Vinci, an accomplished lyre player, was first presented at the Milanese court as a musician, not an artist.Image:Study of horsescirca 1490Silverpoint on prepared paper (credit:Wikimedia Commons)
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8. Ever the animal rights enthusiast, Leonardo Da Vinci reportedly enjoyed purchasing caged birds so that he could set them free.Image:The Virgin of the Rocks (credit:Wikimedia Commons)
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9. Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo were reportedly frenemies. In "The Lost Battles: Leonardo, Michelangelo and the Artistic Duel That Defined the Renaissance," Jonathan Jones writes that two rival artists would often cause serious reality show level drama by insulting each other in public.Image:La Scapigliata (credit:Wikipedia Commons)
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10. As if Leonardo Da Vinci hadn't accomplished enough in his lifetime, the multitalented artist and intellectual is now living the dream as an action hero in the new Starz drama "Da Vinci's Demons." (credit:Starz)