The definition of intelligence in the Merriam Webster Dictionary states, “The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.” With that definition, we instantly think of a good ACT score, a homemaker Albert Einstein, however; do we ever stop and think that intelligence as a gift? In the book The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, author Terry Pratchett argues that intelligence is a gift and our story will play out based on how we use this precious ability given to us. There are two ways that Terry Pratchett describes using intelligence and they are: excelling or abusing. There are two characters that Pratchett uses to distinguish how different a story can turn out based on excelling or abusing the sublime talent of intelligence.
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His first encounter with understanding the power he has within himself is when he talks to a young rat about the shadows caused from a flame a match gives. He tells her, “Being afraid of shadows is all part of us becoming intelligent, I think. Your mind is working out that there’s a you, and there’s also everything outside you…. Learning to face the shadows outside helps us to fight the shadows inside. And you can control the darkness.” (pg.46) Dangerous Beans is explaining that knowing the power we have within ourselves can be scary but when our minds start to realize the dangers that are outside of ourselves we come to know that we have the power to face our shadows on the inside. The shadows on the inside are the most dangerous; they attack our minds with feelings of doubt, stress, worries, and hiding the precious knowledge that we are more than just arms, legs, and a face. Being able to defeat them leads to excelling the precious gift of intelligence in many more ways. Since Dangerous Beans understands his worth he can think more deeply and come up with new ways of thinking. With this attribute the other rats are drawn to him. With this understanding he can help the Big rats, rats with scars, lead them out of this dark territory that is new to them because he knows that he can do anything, and this is a chance to be more than just a
His first encounter with understanding the power he has within himself is when he talks to a young rat about the shadows caused from a flame a match gives. He tells her, “Being afraid of shadows is all part of us becoming intelligent, I think. Your mind is working out that there’s a you, and there’s also everything outside you…. Learning to face the shadows outside helps us to fight the shadows inside. And you can control the darkness.” (pg.46) Dangerous Beans is explaining that knowing the power we have within ourselves can be scary but when our minds start to realize the dangers that are outside of ourselves we come to know that we have the power to face our shadows on the inside. The shadows on the inside are the most dangerous; they attack our minds with feelings of doubt, stress, worries, and hiding the precious knowledge that we are more than just arms, legs, and a face. Being able to defeat them leads to excelling the precious gift of intelligence in many more ways. Since Dangerous Beans understands his worth he can think more deeply and come up with new ways of thinking. With this attribute the other rats are drawn to him. With this understanding he can help the Big rats, rats with scars, lead them out of this dark territory that is new to them because he knows that he can do anything, and this is a chance to be more than just a