--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest virtue of man is perhaps…" description: "\"The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity.\" — Anatole France" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/anatole-france-1443_character_the-greatest-virtue-of-man-is-perhaps-cu_1786742.jpg" --- # The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity. ![“The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity.” quote by Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/anatole-france-1443_character_the-greatest-virtue-of-man-is-perhaps-cu_1786742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/anatole-france-1443_character_the-greatest-virtue-of-man-is-perhaps-cu_1786742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/anatole-france-1443_character_the-greatest-virtue-of-man-is-perhaps-cu_1786742.jpg) > “The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity.” [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Curiosity is arguably humanity's greatest virtue, driving discovery and growth. **In simple terms:** Curiosity is a top virtue. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity. Themes learning exploration growth Mood inquisitive motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - research - travel - creative projects Key Concepts philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - What sparks your curiosity? - How does curiosity shape your life? A Different Perspective Curiosity can lead to distraction if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Greatest Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-virtue-287237/) [Man Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-curiosity-1389675/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-man-532020/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be prepared to claim the greatest virtue of all - that I was a man who made money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/i-want-to-be-prepared-to-claim-the-greatest-virtue-of-all-that-i-was/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“When I die, I hope to go to heaven-- whatever the hell that is-- and I want to be able to afford the price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/when-i-die-i-hope-to-go-to-heaven-whatever-the-hell-that-is-and-i/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [An educated man must have a "curiosity in exploring the unfamiliar and unexpected, an open-mindedness in entertaining opposing points of view, tolerance for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/an-educated-man-must-have-a-curiosity-in-exploring-the-unfamiliar-and/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [If we had known everything in this universe, we would have had to find another universe to feed our curiosity, because what keeps alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-we-had-known-everything-in-this-universe-we-would-have-had-to-find/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Due to man’s curiosity, he will always get in trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-meyer/due-to-man-s-curiosity-he-will-always-get-in-trouble/) [P.G. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-meyer/) > [“Man’s curiosity drives him to seek the answer to every question. But it’s the unanswered questions that are the most exciting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/man-s-curiosity-drives-him-to-seek-the-answer-to-every-question-but/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The virtue of man lies in his ability to correct his mistakes and continually make a new man of himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-virtue-of-man-lies-in-his-ability-to-correct-his-mistakes-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They say, love God, for it is the greatest virtue. 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Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [What virtue is there in a man who demonstrates goodness because he has been bred to it? It is his habit from youth. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-raybourn/what-virtue-is-there-in-a-man-who-demonstrates-goodness-because-he/) [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) > [To me it seems that liberty and virtue were made for each other. If any man wish to enslave his country, nothing is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-berkeley/to-me-it-seems-that-liberty-and-virtue-were-made-for-each-other-if/) [George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-berkeley/) > [They who disbelieve in virtue because man has never been found perfect, might as reasonably deny the sun because it is not always noon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/they-who-disbelieve-in-virtue-because-man-has-never-been-found/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [Were there no desire there would be no virtue, and because one man desires what another does not, who shall say whether the child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/were-there-no-desire-there-would-be-no-virtue-and-because-one-man/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) ## More by Anatole France > [“No, let us not conquer the heavens. It is enough to have the power to do so. War engenders war, and victory defeat. God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/no-let-us-not-conquer-the-heavens-it-is-enough-to-have-the-power-to/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [We have drugs to make women speak, but none to keep them silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/we-have-drugs-to-make-women-speak-but-none-to-keep-them-silent/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [The law ... allows rich as well as poor to sleep under bridges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-law-allows-rich-as-well-as-poor-to-sleep-under-bridges/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [“...the adventure of the soul among the masterpieces.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-adventure-of-the-soul-among-the-masterpieces/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [“If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/if-fifty-million-people-say-a-foolish-thing-it-is-still-a-foolish/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [The future is a convenient place for dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-future-is-a-convenient-place-for-dreams/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [The truth is that life is delicious, horrible, charming, frightful, sweet, bitter, and that is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-truth-is-that-life-is-delicious-horrible-charming-frightful-sweet/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [“And what, above all, I blame in you is that you have not married in compliance with the law and given children to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/and-what-above-all-i-blame-in-you-is-that-you-have-not-married-in/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [An old philosopher said to Monsieur Coignard, a Reverend Father: 'You are a pig!' To which Abad Coignard answered: 'You flatter me, sir. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/an-old-philosopher-said-to-monsieur-coignard-a-reverend-father-you/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [A people living under the perpetual menace of war and invasion is very easy to govern. It demands no social reform. It does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/a-people-living-under-the-perpetual-menace-of-war-and-invasion-is/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/until-one-has-loved-an-animal-a-part-of-one-s-soul-remains-unawakened/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [The faculty of doubting is rare among men. A few choice spirits carry the germs of it in them, but these do not develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-faculty-of-doubting-is-rare-among-men-a-few-choice-spirits-carry/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [When a thing has been said and well said, have no scruple; take it and copy it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/when-a-thing-has-been-said-and-well-said-have-no-scruple-take-it-and/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [Without the utopians of other times, men would still live in caves, miserable and naked;...utopia is the principle of all progress, adn the essay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/without-the-utopians-of-other-times-men-would-still-live-in-caves/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) [Explore all 228 Anatole France quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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