16. PERCEPTION – The Perception of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
AFTERWORD Antonie’s perception – his innate ability to sense and recognize things in his surroundings – helped him become a pioneer in his field. Despite his findings not being recognized by the “experts,” he stayed true to his individualism and continued his research the way he thought it should be done. He also did not worry what the scien- tific authorities thought of him. This was his courage at work, a trait you share and can improve every day. What’s more, he didn’t take offense when his peers called him crazy, which showed his sense of humor . His desire to seek out new information and ability to see things from a different perspective were two qualities he used to the fullest. These are the characteristics of curiosity and imagination , two traits you can put to use right now to improve your life. Look through his story and see how often he used them. Antonie used his inborn perfectionism to build the most powerful microscopes of his day. You will learn more about this trait in the next story. “ All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.” – Leonardo da Vinci TO BE A GENIUS How did Antonie use his mental radar to make him a more effective scientist? Why did he freely offer his findings to the Royal Society? Why is it important for scientists to think of others’ needs and wants more than their own? What are you aware of which others are not? What more can you do to help others?
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