Pursuit of Enlightenment: Happily 'Ever After'

As some of you may have know, my all-time favourite movie is called “Ever After”. I guess for many who are clueless about this film, you would not be able to identify with it. Therefore, here’s the link to view the film’s trailer:
http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/trailer.html?v_id=163072

Tagline: Desire. Defy. Escape.

Here are some memorable quotes from the movie that I love:

Leonardo Da Vinci to Prince Henry (on fate/destiny):
Leonardo da Vinci: You cannot leave everything to Fate, boy. She's got a lot to do. Sometimes you must give her a hand.

Prince Henry’s reaction after retrieving the painting of Mona Lisa from the gypsy:
Henry: You told me it was a matter of life or death.
Leonardo da Vinci: A woman always is.

Discussion of ‘The One’:
Henry: Do you really think there is only one perfect mate?
Leonardo da Vinci: As a matter of fact, I do.
Henry: Well then how can you be certain to find them? And if you do finally find them, are they really the one for you or do you only think they are? And what happens if the person you're supposed to be with never appears, or she does, but you're too distracted to notice?
Leonardo da Vinci: You learn to pay attention.

Danielle’s consternation at the incompatibility of social status:
Danielle: A bird may love a fish, signore, but where will they live?
Leonardo da Vinci: Then I shall have to make you wings.

A quote that inspires us to possess determination till the very end:
Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent: Darling, nothing is final 'til you're dead, and even then, I'm sure God negotiates.

Conversation between Danielle and the prince:
Danielle: It is not fair, sire. You have found my weakness, but I have yet to learn yours.
Henry: But I should think it was quite obvious.

Danielle quoting from Thomas More’s 'Utopia':
Danielle: If you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners corrupted from infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded, sire, but that you first make thieves and then punish them?

Prince Henry’s proposing to Danielle:
Henry: I kneel before you not as a prince, but as a man in love... I would feel like a king if you, Danielle De Barbarac, would be my wife.

Conversation between Danielle and Prince Henry:
Danielle: You were born to privilege, and with that comes specific obligations.
[pauses]
Danielle: Forgive me, sire, it seems my mouth has run away again.
Henry: It is your mouth that has me hypnotized.

Daily Trivia: How much sleep do we need?
The amount of sleep an individual requires varies from person to person, but most adults average eight hours of sleep. The quality of a person's sleep factors into the sleep equation. When we drift off to sleep, we either fall into a deep, restful sleep, or into a shallow, light sleep. One who normally requires eight hours of sleep, but sleeps shallowly, will most likely awaken feeling tired. In contrast, if the same individual sleeps fewer hours, but lapses into a state of deep sleep, he may well awaken refreshed and invigorated.
A lucky few can bypass shallow sleep altogether, and fall directly into deep sleep on an as needed basis. Alexander the Great's military prowess may have been due, in part, to his ability to take a "cat nap."

Place to Visit: France (since Ever After is a story set in France, I shall take the opportunity to introduce it today)
Paris nourishes the senses and feeds both intellect and soul. This culture-rich city has lots of bistros and magnificent museums. However, there is more to France than this romantic City of Light. There is charming Provence, the ancient papal city of Avignon and the quiet and sanctified Lourdes. And it would be a dream to live in a beautiful chateau in the Rhone-Alpes, complete with a huge four poster bed and plush tapestries!!!