I am often amazed at how much more capability and enthusiasm for science there is among elementary school youngsters than among college students.
—Carl Sagan (1934–96) American Astronomer
Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
Curiosity is the lust of the mind.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
The alchemists in their search for gold discovered many other things of greater value.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Curiosity is the key to creativity.
—Akio Morita (1921–99) Japanese Entrepreneur
Go around asking a lot of damn fool questions and taking chances. Only through curiosity can we discover opportunities, and only by gambling can we take advantage of them.
—Unknown
A sense of curiosity is nature’s original school of education.
—Smiley Blanton
There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.
—French Proverb
Curiosity … endows the people who have it with a generosity in argument and a serenity in their own mode of life which springs from their cheerful willingness to let life take the form it will.
—Alistair Cooke (1908–2004) British-American Journalist, Broadcaster
A man should stay alive if only out of curiosity.
—Yiddish Proverb
Let your self go. If you can approach the world’s complexities, both its glories and its horrors, with an attitude of humble curiosity, acknowledging that however deeply you have seen, you have only scratched the surface, you will find worlds within worlds, beauties you could not heretofore imagine, and your own mundane preoccupations will shrink to proper size, not all that important in the greater scheme of things.
—Daniel C. Dennett (b.1942) American Philosopher, Atheist, Author
Curiosity killed the cat, but for awhile I was a suspect.
—Steven Wright (b.1955) American Comedian, Actor, Writer
Avoid him who, for mere curiosity, asks three questions running about a thing that cannot interest him.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.
—Pierre-Marc-Gaston, duc de Levis
Curiosity is free-wheeling intelligence.
—Alistair Cooke (1908–2004) British-American Journalist, Broadcaster
The gratification of curiosity rather frees us from uneasiness, than confers pleasure.—We are more pained by ignorance, than delighted by instruction.—Curiosity is the thirst of the soul.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shrewd unto thee than men understand.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Only barbarians are not curious about where they come from, how they came to be where they are, where they appear to be going, whether they wish to go there, and if so, why, and if not, why not.
—Isaiah Berlin (1907–97) British Liberal Philosopher, Historian
Curiosity is the one thing invincible in Nature.
—Freya Stark (1893–1993) British Explorer, Writer
The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never tire of it. If we do tire of it, if we lose our curiosity, we have lost something of infinite value, because to a high degree it is curiosity that gives meaning and savour to life.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canadian Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
Inquisitiveness or curiosity is a kernel of the forbidden fruit, which still sticketh in the throat of a natural man, and sometimes to the danger of his choking.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Curiosity, from its nature, is a very active principle; it quickly runs over the greatest part of its objects, and soon exhausts the variety common to be met with in nature. Some degree of novelty must be one of the materials; in almost every instrument which works upon the mind; and curiosity blends itself, more or less, with all our pleasures.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
A person who is too nice an observer of the business of the crowd, like one who is too curious in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent; curiosity, obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism have brought me to my ideas.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
It is a shameful thing to be weary of inquiry when what we search for is excellent.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Cultivate your garden … Do not depend upon teachers to educate you … follow your own bent, pursue your curiosity bravely, express yourself, make your own harmony … In the end, education, like happiness, is individual, and must come to us from life and from ourselves. There is no way; each pilgrim must make his own path. “Happiness,” said Chamfort, “is not easily won; it is hard to find it in ourselves, and impossible to find it elsewhere.”
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
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