CURIOSITY

Burke, Edmund
The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity.

Byron, George Gordon Noel
I loathe that low vice, curiosity.

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor
The curiosity of an honorable mind willingly rests where the love of truth does not urge it further onward and the love of its neighbor bids it stop.—In other words, it willingly stops at the point where the interests of truth do not beckon it onward, and charity cries "Halt."

Fuller, Thomas
Curiosity is a kernel of the forbidden fruit which still sticketh in the throat of a natural man, sometimes to the danger of his choking.

Johnson, Samuel
Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.—Every advance into knowledge opens new prospects and produces new incitements to further progress.

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.

Lavater, John Caspar
Avoid him who, for mere curiosity, asks three questions running about a thing that cannot interest him.

Locke, John
Curiosity in children is but an appetite for knowledge. One great reason why children abandon themselves wholly to silly pursuits and trifle away their time insipidly is, because they find their curiosity balked, and their inquiries neglected.

Massinger, Philip
The over curious are not over wise.

Moore, Thomas
Eve, with all the fruits of Eden blest, save only one, rather than leave that one unknown, lost all the rest.

Osborn, Francis
No heart is empty of the humor of curiosity, the beggar being as attentive, in his station, to an increase of knowledge, as the prince.

Pope, Alexander
A person who is too nice an observer of the business of the crowd, like one who is too curius in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.

Quesnel, Pasquier
Men are more inclined to ask curious questions, than to obtain necessary instruction.

Rochefoucauld, Francois, duc de la
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.

Sprague, Charles
How many a noble art, now widely known, owes its young impulse to this power alone.

Steele, Sir Richard
Inquisitive people are the funnels of conversation; they do not take anything for their own use, but merely to pass it on to others.

Wayland, Herman Lincoln
Curiosity is looking over other people's stairs, and overlooking our own.

Whately, Richard
Curiosity is as much the parent of attention, as attention is of memory.

Wirt, William
Seize the moment of excited curiosity on any subject, to solve your doubts; for if you let it pass, the desire may never return, and you may remain in ignorance.