Who said “Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes…”?

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Leonardo Da Vinci. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceI Prolegomena and General Introduction to the Book on Painting

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“Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind.”
— Leonardo Da Vinci
VerifiedI Prolegomena and General Introduction to the Book on Painting · evidenceMind

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For academic work, cite the original where you can: I Prolegomena and General Introduction to the Book on Painting.

APA

Vinci, L. D. (n.d.). Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29139-iron-rusts-from-disuse-stagnant-water-loses-its/

MLA

Vinci, Leonardo Da. “Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29139-iron-rusts-from-disuse-stagnant-water-loses-its/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Vinci, Leonardo Da. “Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29139-iron-rusts-from-disuse-stagnant-water-loses-its/.

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