Summary
Leibniz's own description of his physical appearance, habits, and temperament:
From childhood onward he led a sedentary life with very little physical activity. In his youth he read widely and was an autodidact in most things; and he always wanted to investigate things more deeply than is ordinarily done and to discover new things. – He works deep into the night and gets up late. He does not move much. But occasionally he leaves the city and can walk at a good pace for a long time without getting tired. He lies still while sleeping.
He is of average height, lean, and of pale complexion. He normally has cold hands. He does not often sweat, and has long feet and fingers which are very thin, with innumerable lines running through his hands.
His body is not very hairy. The hair on his head is rather dark (dark brown and straight).
From his youth his eyes did not see well at a distance, which resulted not from studying but from his natural constitution. On the other hand, as he reads and writes constantly, he has no difficulty in exactly distinguishing even the smallest writing at close range, and he therefore finds it easier to read middle-sized than large writing.
He has a faint voice but high and clear rather than strong….
Concerning his feelings, he is never very happy or very sad. He quickly becomes animated by conversation and intellectual activity and sometimes can scarcely contain himself, but soon gets back to normal.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- LeibnizAn Intellectual Biography, pp. 557 - 564Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008