The Da Vinci Principle — Habits of a Brilliant Polymath

The word “polymath” has existed for centuries. In fact, it was first used back in the 4th century to describe the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who was known as a “multifaceted individual who had a broad knowledge of many disciplines.”

In the Renaissance period, a polymath was a scholar who excelled in many diverse fields of knowledge.

“Renaissance man” or a “T-shaped expert”: someone with deep expertise in one area and broad knowledge across many disciplines.

The key to becoming a polymath is having a broad range of knowledge. For example, you can’t become a polymath if you only know one topic well or if you only know one language well. You have to have multiple knowledge bases.

The same principle applies to any subject — master the broad or core subject and learn sub-skills that can make you an expert over time.

There are many great examples of polymaths: Aristotle, Galileo Galilei, Eratosthenes, Nicolaus Copernicus, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, and Marie Curie are a few brilliant minds with a wide breadth of knowledge in many different subjects — with insatiably curious minds.

“Aristotle was an encyclopedic polymath, an all time intellect. Yet not only can you know more than him about the world. You also can have a deeper understanding of how everything works. Such is the privilege of living after Newton, Darwin, Einstein, Planck, Watson, Crick and their colleagues,” says Richard Dawkins.

A successful polymath optimises their time and energy between their different interests and activities.

“There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, those who do not see,” says Leonardo da Vinci.

Leonard was so good at many things that he is sometimes called “the human engine” or simply the “brain”. Da Vinci is known for his Mona Lisa smile and the flying machine he designed to lift off from the ground or water.

His notebooks reveal an inventor with such insights as advanced geometry and aerodynamics more than 400 years before their time. While Leonardo led a more obscure life than other Renaissance titans like Michelangelo or Titian, his legacy as one of history’s greatest minds remains undeniable.

“Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses — especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else, ” says Leonardo Da Vinci.

The polymath lifestyle is one of continuous learning and growth. It’s about following your curiosities and interests rather than conforming to or accepting conventional wisdom.

“Modern work demands knowledge transfer: the ability to apply knowledge to new situations and different domains,” argues David Epstein, author of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.

Leonardo da Vinci said, “Learning never exhausts the mind.”

The key to becoming a polymath is having a broad range of knowledge.