Introduction
If we have to pick a single word to describe Leonardo Da Vinci, that would be "Curiosity". Leonardo was driven by voracious curiosity throughout his life. He possessed an intense desire to explore and understand the world around him. Da Vinci's curiosity extended across various fields, including art, science, engineering, anatomy, and more. He lived 500 years ago, so how do we really learn about him? Thanks to his notebooks that are still available to this day.
In this article, I have endeavored to highlight a selection of his to-do items from his notes, providing us with a glimpse into the remarkable individual that he was. And while doing so, I have added some commentary of my own to explain what my first thoughts were after reading those items.
Insanely Curious About Everything
Describe the tongue of a woodpecker
I know that sounds really insane, I mean why in the world would someone wake up one day and ask, what would the tongue of a woodpecker look like?
Create a recipe for invisible ink
And he was not just writing this stuff down, as evident from other notes in his notebooks. He developed a substance using lemon juice and alum, revealing the ink's hidden message when the heat was applied.
Calculate the measurement of Milan and Suburbs
Why would anyone even contemplate this?" 🤔 ... Well, it appears the following item holds the answer to this question, it's a different thing that, then we will have a new one 🙃
Draw Milan
Just Wowwwww......
Unleashing Imagination As Is
Invent a flying machine
Believe me, He wrote this 500 years ago !! And even made some 200 designs for airplanes at that time in his notebooks.
Record your thoughts and observations: Keep detailed notebooks and journals to document your ideas, sketches, and scientific observations. These records will serve as valuable references for future generations and provide insights into your thought process.
If everything till now was not enough, He even predicted this moment 😵💫
Develop a method to divert rivers
Way ahead of his time.
Take Help...Unwavering Dedication To An Insatiable Curiosity
Find a master of hydraulics and get him to tell you how to repair a lock, canal and mill in the Lombard manner
Seems like 4 tasks to me 🙄
Ask Maestro Antonio how mortars are positioned on bastions by day or night
Was this dude really an artist by profession?
Ask about the measurement of the sun promised me by Maestro Giovanni Francese
I bet, Leonardo made him promise that while flaunting a knife 🔪
Being Creative
Create a mechanical knight
Here he was trying to combine his artistic and engineering skills to construct a fully functional mechanical knight
Paint the Mona Lisa
Well, The rest is History
Design a musical instrument in the shape of a horse's head
🐴
I have attempted to include some of my personal favorites, but as you may have already surmised, the mind pondering over the tongue of a woodpecker must have conceived numerous entrancing and crazy ideas ..........
let's end with some of his words ......
I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.