Curiosity is only vanity. Most frequently we wish not to know, but to talk. We would not take a sea voyage for the sole pleasure of seeing without hope of ever telling.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
I keep six honest serving men; they taught me all I knew; their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Writer, Poet, Novelist, Short Story Author
Curiosity killed the cat, but for awhile I was a suspect.
—Steven Wright (b.1955) American Comedian, Actor, Writer
That low vice, curiosity!
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.
—French Proverb
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
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
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
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
A man’s interest in the world is only an overflow from his interest in himself.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
A man should stay alive if only out of curiosity.
—Yiddish Proverb
Inquisitive people are the funnels of conversation; they do not take anything for their own use, but merely to pass it on to others.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
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
There are two sorts of curiosity—the momentary and the permanent. The momentary is concerned with the odd appearance on the surface of things. The permanent is attracted by the amazing and consecutive life that flows on beneath the surface of things.
—Robert Wilson Lynd (1879–1949) Irish Essayist, Critic
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
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.
—Carl Sagan (1934–96) American Astronomer
My Alma mater was books, a good library… I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Civil Rights Leader
The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
You now what a woman’s curiosity is. Almost as great as a man’s!
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Every man ought to be inquisitive through every hour of his great adventure down to the day when he shall no longer cast a shadow in the sun. For if he dies without a question in his heart, what excuse is there for his continuance?
—Frank Moore Colby (1865–1925) American Encyclopedia Editor, Essayist
I don’t believe in principle, but I do in interest.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
The scientist is motivated primarily by curiosity and a desire for truth.
—Irving Langmuir (1881–1957) American Surface Science Physicist
Curiosity is a willing, a proud, an eager confession of ignorance.
—S. Leonard Rubinstein American Author
There are different kinds of curiosity; one of interest, which causes us to learn that which would be useful to us; and the other of pride, which springs from a desire to know that of which others are ignorant.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
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
There are no uninteresting things, there are only uninterested people.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
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
It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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
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