Leonardo da Vinci's ability to make connections across disciplines is key to innovation, imagination, and genius.
Leonardo's lack of formal education allowed him to embrace self-learning and value curiosity and practical knowledge over received wisdom.
Deep dives
The Power of Curiosity and Connection
Leonardo da Vinci's ability to make connections across disciplines, arts and science, humanities and technology is a key to innovation, imagination, and genius. He embodied the idea of being a polymath who constantly sought to understand the world and how we fit into it.
The Importance of Self-Education
Leonardo's lack of formal education allowed him to become a disciple of experience and experiments. He embraced self-learning and was defensive about being unlettered, emphasizing the value of curiosity and practical knowledge over received wisdom.
The Universality of Leonardo's Genius
Leonardo's brilliance extended across multiple disciplines, from art and science to engineering and anatomy. His insatiable curiosity allowed him to explore various domains and make unexpected connections, making him a true exemplar of a polymath and universal mind.
Lessons from Leonardo
By emulating Leonardo's approach, one can cultivate curiosity, seek knowledge for its own sake, embrace procrastination as a way to nurture ideas, integrate different fields of study, indulge fantasy, make lists, take physical notes, and remain open to mystery. These principles can inspire creativity, innovation, and a deeper understanding of the world.