--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Curiosity is idle only to those who fail…" description: "\"Curiosity is idle only to those who fail to realize that it may be a very rare and indispensable thing.\" — James Harvey Robinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/james-harvey-robinson-24679_curiosity_curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail_1092908.png" --- # Curiosity is idle only to those who fail to realize that… ![“Curiosity is idle only to those who fail to realize that it may be a very rare and indispensable thing.” quote by James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/james-harvey-robinson-24679_curiosity_curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail_1092908.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/james-harvey-robinson-24679_curiosity_curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail_1092908.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/james-harvey-robinson-24679_curiosity_curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail_1092908.png) > “Curiosity is idle only to those who fail to realize that it may be a very rare and indispensable thing.” [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) ## 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 essential; only those who ignore its value see it as idle. **In simple terms:** Curiosity is vital, not idle. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity. Themes learning innovation mindset Mood inquisitive reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - education - research - personal growth - problem solving Key Concepts philosophy psychology creativity Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize curiosity’s value? - What habits nurture curiosity? A Different Perspective Curiosity can be distracted by fear of failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) ## Related quotes > [People say: idle curiosity. The one thing that curiosity cannot be is idle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/people-say-idle-curiosity-the-one-thing-that-curiosity-cannot-be-is/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/as-human-beings-our-job-in-life-is-to-help-people-realize-how-rare-2/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [The older I get, the more I realize how rare it is to meet a kindred spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-realize-how-rare-it-is-to-meet-a-kindred/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [“I’ve, recently, come to realize how rare are those creatures who have never had a fling or even a, mere, friendship with an opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-adel/i-ve-recently-come-to-realize-how-rare-are-those-creatures-who-have/) [Sarah Adel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-adel/) > [“Those who have such a family seldom realize how rare and precious it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/those-who-have-such-a-family-seldom-realize-how-rare-and-precious-it/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Everything great is just as difficult to realize as it is rare to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/everything-great-is-just-as-difficult-to-realize-as-it-is-rare-to-find/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [Money is indispensable to a long-circuit heavy load energy system. It must be used when a sufficient surplus is being produced to allow a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-paterson/money-is-indispensable-to-a-long-circuit-heavy-load-energy-system-it/) [Isabel Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-paterson/) > [The dictatorship of the proletariat and the leadership of the Marxist-Leninist party are indispensable conditions for the triumph of the Socialist revolution and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/the-dictatorship-of-the-proletariat-and-the-leadership-of-the-marxist/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Farmers are the only indispensable people on the face of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-zhaoxing/farmers-are-the-only-indispensable-people-on-the-face-of-the-earth/) [Li Zhaoxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-zhaoxing/) > [In general, in poetry and literature, I am among those people who believe that too much is indispensable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-yevtushenko/in-general-in-poetry-and-literature-i-am-among-those-people-who/) [Yevgeny Yevtushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-yevtushenko/) > [Secrecy is as indispensable to human beings as fire, and as greatly feared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissela-bok/secrecy-is-as-indispensable-to-human-beings-as-fire-and-as-greatly/) [Sissela Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissela-bok/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by James Harvey Robinson > [Partisanship is our great curse. We too readily assume that everything has two sides and that it is our duty to be on one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/partisanship-is-our-great-curse-we-too-readily-assume-that-everything/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Man has long found solace in good talk to offset bad conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/man-has-long-found-solace-in-good-talk-to-offset-bad-conduct/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Speech gave man a unique power to lead a double life, he could say one thing and do another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/speech-gave-man-a-unique-power-to-lead-a-double-life-he-could-say-one/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [With supreme irony, the war to make the world safe for democracy ended by leaving democracy more unsafe in the world than at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/with-supreme-irony-the-war-to-make-the-world-safe-for-democracy-ended/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act on the infinite possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/each-of-us-is-great-insofar-as-we-perceive-and-act-on-the-infinite/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [To become historically-minded is to be grown-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/to-become-historically-minded-is-to-be-grown-up/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/we-are-incredibly-heedless-in-the-formation-of-our-beliefs-but-find/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [We continue to think of new things in old ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/we-continue-to-think-of-new-things-in-old-ways/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Rationalizing is the self-exculpation which occurs when we feel ourselves, or our group, accused of misapprehension or error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/rationalizing-is-the-self-exculpation-which-occurs-when-we-feel/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [We find it hard to believe that other people's thoughts are as silly as our own, but they probably are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/we-find-it-hard-to-believe-that-other-people-s-thoughts-are-as-silly/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [History ... may be regarded as an artificial extension and : broadening of our memories and may be used to overcome the natural bewilderment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/history-may-be-regarded-as-an-artificial-extension-and-broadening-of/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [In its amplest meaning History includes every trace and vestige of everything that man has done or thought since first he appeared on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/in-its-amplest-meaning-history-includes-every-trace-and-vestige-of/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but if someone tries to take them from us, we defend them with almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/we-are-incredibly-heedless-in-the-formation-of-our-beliefs-but-if/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Mere lack of success does not discredit a method, for there are many things that determine and perpetuate our sanctified ways of doing things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit-a-method-for-there-are-many/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Few of us take the pains to study the origin of our cherished convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/few-of-us-take-the-pains-to-study-the-origin-of-our-cherished/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) [Explore all 24 James Harvey Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) ## 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 idle only to those who fail to realize that it may be a very rare and indispensable thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Harvey Robinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail-to-realize-that-it-may-be-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Curiosity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail-to-realize-that-it-may-be-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/james-harvey-robinson-24679_curiosity_curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail_1092908.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/james-harvey-robinson-24679_curiosity_curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail_1092908.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/james-harvey-robinson-24679_curiosity_curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail_1092908.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Curiosity is idle only to those who fail to realize that it may be a very rare and indispensable thing.” — James Harvey Robinson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Harvey Robinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Curiosity is idle only to those...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail-to-realize-that-it-may-be-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail-to-realize-that-it-may-be-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```