--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I think of the wisest people I know…" description: "\"“When I think of the wisest people I know, they share one defining trait: curiosity. They turn away from the minutiae of their lives-and focus on the w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/dani-shapiro-2273_art_when-i-think-of-the-wisest-people-i-know_358174.png" --- # When I think of the wisest people I know, they share one… ![“When I think of the wisest people I know, they share one defining trait: curiosity. They turn away from the minutiae of their lives-and focus on the world around them. They are motivated by the desire to explore the unfamiliar. They are drawn toward what they don't understand.” quote by Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/dani-shapiro-2273_art_when-i-think-of-the-wisest-people-i-know_358174.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/dani-shapiro-2273_art_when-i-think-of-the-wisest-people-i-know_358174.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/dani-shapiro-2273_art_when-i-think-of-the-wisest-people-i-know_358174.png) > ““When I think of the wisest people I know, they share one defining trait: curiosity. They turn away from the minutiae of their lives-and focus on the world around them. They are motivated by the desire to explore the unfamiliar. They are drawn toward what they don't understand.”” [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The most insightful people prioritize curiosity, focusing outward and exploring unknowns rather than minutiae. **In simple terms:** Curiosity drives insight. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity to expand understanding. Themes curiosity learning exploration Mood inquisitive thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - research - travel - creative projects Key Concepts cognitive openness intellectual humility growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What unknown topics could you explore today? - How does curiosity affect decision making? A Different Perspective Curiosity can lead to distraction or overwhelm if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-advice/) ## Related quotes > [I think that that's the wisest thing - to prevent illness before we try to cure something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-think-that-that-s-the-wisest-thing-to-prevent-illness-before-we-try/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“A wise leader, a past King of Wayland actually, wrote this in his personal history at the end of his very successful reign. 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"Our stories choose us." She paused and took a sip of water.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-believe-that-we-don-t-choose-our-stories-she-began-leaning-forward/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [“I can tell you that the writing of a book, no matter how deeply, profoundly personal-if it is literature, if you have attended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-can-tell-you-that-the-writing-of-a-book-no-matter-how-deeply/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [“I've never heard a writer feel that way about a device with a screen. Oh sure, they're functional, practical. We would be lost without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-ve-never-heard-a-writer-feel-that-way-about-a-device-with-a-screen/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [“Upon the one thing every writer absolutely must have, and that is intellectual curiosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-athans/upon-the-one-thing-every-writer-absolutely-must-have-and-that-is/) Phillip Athans ## More by Dani Shapiro > [“The writer’s life requires courage, patience, empathy, openness. It requires the ability to be alone with oneself. Gentle with oneself. To be disciplined, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/the-writer-s-life-requires-courage-patience-empathy-openness-it/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I never troll for material. It simply presents itself, and is always unmistakable. 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There is no end to the possibilities. You can continue to promote a book for years, literally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/there-is-no-end-to-the-promotion-there-is-no-end-to-the-possibilities/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [We can't protect ourselves from pain and heartache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/we-can-t-protect-ourselves-from-pain-and-heartache/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [A writer with her work needs to be like a dog with a bone all the time. She needs to know where she's hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/a-writer-with-her-work-needs-to-be-like-a-dog-with-a-bone-all-the/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [“Oh, child! 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. 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