Monday with a Mad Genius

Sunlight flooded through the tree house window. No time had passed in Frog Creek. The school bell was still ringing, announcing that class would start in ten

P96 "Always ask questions," said Leonardo. "Always try to learn something new. Ask: Why? When? Where? What? Say: 'I wonder what this means.' 'I wonder what this person is like. And that person. And that one.' I am always searching for answers to things I don't understand." "Me too!" said Jack. "And so I look forward to each new day, each spring and summer and fall and winter, and all the months and years ahead, because there is so much to discover," said Leonardo. "Me too!" said Annie. "Through my curiosity, I forget my failures and sorrows, and I feel great happiness," said Leonardo.

P95 How'd you figure that out?" asked Annie. "I mean, you're always coming up with new ways to do things. How do you do that?" "I ask questions," said Leonardo. "All the time, I ask questions: How can I paint the light? How can I capture the shadows? How can I do this? How can I do that?" Leonardo stopped painting. He put down his brush and looked at Jack and Annie. His eyes were sparkling. "And now, my friends, I know the secret." "You do?" said Jack. "Yes," said Leonardo. "The secret of happiness is available to all of us, every hour of every day. Young, old, rich, poor - everyone can choose to find happiness in this way." "How?" asked Annie. "What's the secret?" She and Jack leaned forward, eager to hear the answer. "Curiosity," said Leonardo.

... We must do what we do to satisfy our own hearts..." (p. 87)

... Perhaps some things should remain mysteries and are better kept in our hearts. We should not try to explain them." (p. 86)

... a great artist has to combine observation with imagination." (p. 78)

People think I am trying to keep my ideas a secret," said Leonardo. "But, in truth, I am left-handed, and when I write normally from left to right, I smear ink across the page. One day I realized that if I wrote backward, I would not be so messy." (p. 62)

I get ideas for my paintings from everything! I look at a watermark on a wall and see an old woman's face. I look at a food stain on my tablecloth and see a horse! I study rain puddles and rocks and see oceans and mountains!" (p.36)

P9 "Remember the three rules of the wand" said Kathleen. "Sure," said Annie. "You can only use it for the good of others. You can only use it after you've tried your hardest. And you can only use it with a command of five words.

I wish to work miracles." - from the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci: And now my friends I know the secret. Jack: You do? Leonardo da Vinci: Yes, the secret to happiness is available to all of us, every hour of every day. Young, old, rich, poor — everyone can choose to find happiness in this way. Annie: How? What's the secret? Leonardo da Vinci: Curiosity

Through curiosity, I forget my failures and sorrows, and I feel great happiness.

Perhaps some things should remain mysteries and are better kept in our hearts. We should not try to explain them.