--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Curiosity is only in vanity. Most…" description: "\"Curiosity is only in 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 h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/blaise-pascal-167_curiosity_curiosity-is-only-in-vanity-most-frequen_1835607.jpg" --- # Curiosity is only in vanity. Most frequently we wish not… ![“Curiosity is only in 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.” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/blaise-pascal-167_curiosity_curiosity-is-only-in-vanity-most-frequen_1835607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/blaise-pascal-167_curiosity_curiosity-is-only-in-vanity-most-frequen_1835607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/blaise-pascal-167_curiosity_curiosity-is-only-in-vanity-most-frequen_1835607.jpg) > “Curiosity is only in 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often seek knowledge only to boast, not for genuine understanding; curiosity becomes a tool for vanity. **In simple terms:** Curiosity is often used to show off. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge for its own sake. Themes vanity knowledge communication Mood reflective critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - academic debate - social media - personal relationships Key Concepts epistemology ego social display Questions to Reflect On - Do you value learning over impressing others? - How does sharing knowledge benefit you? A Different Perspective It can also foster genuine learning when intentions are pure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Sea voyage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea-voyage/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Voyage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyage/) [Voyages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyages/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Without hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-hope/) ## Related quotes > [Why is almost every robust healthy boy with a robust healthy soul in him, at some time or other crazy to go to sea?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/why-is-almost-every-robust-healthy-boy-with-a-robust-healthy-soul-in-2/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [In the shortest sea voyage there is no sense of time. You have been down in the cabin for hours or days or years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/in-the-shortest-sea-voyage-there-is-no-sense-of-time-you-have-been/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [To young men contemplating a voyage I would say go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-slocum/to-young-men-contemplating-a-voyage-i-would-say-go/) [Joshua Slocum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-slocum/) > [If we must not act save on a certainty, we ought not to act on religion, for it is not certain. But how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/if-we-must-not-act-save-on-a-certainty-we-ought-not-to-act-on/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [ “\[77\] Pride. Curiosity is only vanity. We usually only want to know something so that we can talk about it; in other words, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/77-pride-curiosity-is-only-vanity-we-usually-only-want-to-know/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Curiosity is nothing more than vanity. More often than not we only seek knowledge to show it off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/curiosity-is-nothing-more-than-vanity-more-often-than-not-we-only/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Curiosity is only vanity. We usually only want to know something so that we can talk about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/curiosity-is-only-vanity-we-usually-only-want-to-know-something-so/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Why is almost every robust healthy boy with a robust healthy soul in him, at some time or other crazy to go to sea?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/why-is-almost-every-robust-healthy-boy-with-a-robust-healthy-soul-in/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Why did the poor poet of Tennessee, upon suddenly receiving two handfuls of silver, deliberate whether to buy him a coat, which he sadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/why-did-the-poor-poet-of-tennessee-upon-suddenly-receiving-two/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But a wide sea voyage severs us at once. It makes us conscious of being cast loose from the secure anchorage of settled life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/but-a-wide-sea-voyage-severs-us-at-once-it-makes-us-conscious-of/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is a tide in the affairs of men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-is-a-tide-in-the-affairs-of-men/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I suppose we shall soon travel by air-vessels; make air instead of sea voyages; and at length find our way to the moon, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/i-suppose-we-shall-soon-travel-by-air-vessels-make-air-instead-of-sea/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [We must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-must-take-the-current-when-it-serves-or-lose-our-ventures/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [We have found that morals are not, like bacon, to be cured by hanging; nor, like wine, to be improved by sea voyages; nor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-found-that-morals-are-not-like-bacon-to-be-cured-by-hanging/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is a time in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-is-a-time-in-the-affairs-of-men-which-taken-at-the-flood-leads/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Blaise Pascal > [“Do they think that they have given us great pleasure by telling us that they hold our soul to be no more than wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-they-think-that-they-have-given-us-great-pleasure-by-telling-us/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The method of not erring is sought by all the world. The logicians profess to guide it, the geometricians alone attain it, and apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-method-of-not-erring-is-sought-by-all-the-world-the-logicians/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [When we read too fast or too slowly, we understand nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-we-read-too-fast-or-too-slowly-we-understand-nothing/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Mahomet established a religion by putting his enemies to death; Jesus Christ by commanding his followers to lay down their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/mahomet-established-a-religion-by-putting-his-enemies-to-death-jesus/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Reflect on death as in Jesus Christ, not as without Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ it is dreadful, it is alarming, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/reflect-on-death-as-in-jesus-christ-not-as-without-jesus-christ/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves as united to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/happiness-can-be-found-neither-in-ourselves-nor-in-external-things/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Rivers are highways that move on and bear us whither we wish to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/rivers-are-highways-that-move-on-and-bear-us-whither-we-wish-to-go/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [We desire truth, and find within ourselves only uncertainty. We seek happiness, and find only misery and death. We cannot but desire truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-desire-truth-and-find-within-ourselves-only-uncertainty-we-seek/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Vanity is illustrated in the cause and effect of love, as in the case of Cleopatra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/vanity-is-illustrated-in-the-cause-and-effect-of-love-as-in-the-case/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“There is no denying it; one must admit that there is something astonishing about Christianity. 'It is because you were born in it,' they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-is-no-denying-it-one-must-admit-that-there-is-something/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Imagination is the deceptive part in man, the mistress of error and falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/imagination-is-the-deceptive-part-in-man-the-mistress-of-error-and/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The majority is the best way, because it is visible, and has strength to make itself obeyed. Yet it is the opinion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-majority-is-the-best-way-because-it-is-visible-and-has-strength/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Explore all 988 Blaise Pascal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## More Curiosity quotes > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Curiosity Can Kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anison/curiosity-can-kill/) [Anison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anison/) > [“So curious you must be. Like little calves poking their heads through the fence with big eyes and a headful of curiosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/so-curious-you-must-be-like-little-calves-poking-their-heads-through/) [Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/) > [ “\[T\]he question "What is everything?" has no meaning, even though it seems to be profound. \[...\] The point is, perhaps, that I am not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/t-he-question-what-is-everything-has-no-meaning-even-though-it-seems/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Be curious not judge mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/be-curious-not-judge-mental/) Unknow > [There is nothing so carking as the pangs of unsatisfied curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/there-is-nothing-so-carking-as-the-pangs-of-unsatisfied-curiosity/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes curiosity is a poison, not only for those who drink it but for everyone around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/sometimes-curiosity-is-a-poison-not-only-for-those-who-drink-it-but/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it sure has earned a lot of people graduate degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-irving/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-sure-has-earned-a-lot-of/) Robyn Irving [Browse all 2,721 Curiosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Curiosity is only in vanity. Most frequently we wish not to know, but to talk. 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