Curiosity Quote by Edmund Burke
“The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful, 1757
Curiosity is the most basic emotion that drives human thought and discovery.
In simple terms: Curiosity sparks learning.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate curiosity daily.
Themes
learning
exploration
human nature
emotion
Mood
inquisitive
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- reading a new book
- traveling
- asking questions at work
- experimenting in a kitchen
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What are you most curious about now?
- How does curiosity shape your decisions?
A Different Perspective
Curiosity can lead to distraction or anxiety if unchecked.
![“We have no clear ideas of the agency of [demonic] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but tells us plainly that he is always watching us, and desiring to sift us as wheat. I believe we give him no more than his due, when we charge him with having a…” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c75/john-newton-6629_abundance_we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of_2907.jpg)
![“[T]he question "What is everything?" has no meaning, even though it seems to be profound. [...] The point is, perhaps, that I am not looking for a verbal answer, just as when I ask for a kiss, I do not want a piece of paper with "A kiss" written on it. It is rather that metaphysical wonder looks…” quote by Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/705/alan-w-watts-9497_curiosity_t-he-question-what-is-everything-has-no_3984.jpg)
![“By profession a biologist, [Thomas Henry Huxley] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences. Absolutely nothing was uninteresting to him. His curiosity ranged from music to theology and from philosophy to history. He didn't simply know something…” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f46/h-l-mencken-245_absolutely-nothing_by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-h_5368.jpg)
