--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Curiosity is one of the permanent and…" description: "\"Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect. Every advance into knowledge opens new prospects, and produces n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/samuel-johnson-50_certain_curiosity-is-one-of-the-permanent-and-ce_433322.png" --- # Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain… ![“Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect. Every advance into knowledge opens new prospects, and produces new incitements to farther progress.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/samuel-johnson-50_certain_curiosity-is-one-of-the-permanent-and-ce_433322.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/samuel-johnson-50_certain_curiosity-is-one-of-the-permanent-and-ce_433322.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/samuel-johnson-50_certain_curiosity-is-one-of-the-permanent-and-ce_433322.png) > “Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect. Every advance into knowledge opens new prospects, and produces new incitements to farther progress.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lively mind constantly seeks knowledge, and each discovery creates further curiosity and drive for progress. **In simple terms:** Curiosity fuels ongoing learning and advancement. Key Takeaway Embrace continual questioning. Themes learning curiosity progress intellect Mood inquisitive optimistic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - research - career development - personal growth - innovation - teaching Key Concepts Philosophy psychology education Questions to Reflect On - What recent discovery sparked further curiosity? - How do you balance learning with action? A Different Perspective New knowledge can also overwhelm and cause analysis paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) ## Related quotes > [“Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/curiosity-is-one-of-the-permanent-and-certain-characteristics-of-a-3/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/curiosity-is-one-of-the-most-permanent-and-certain-characteristics-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/curiosity-is-one-of-the-permanent-and-certain-characteristics-of-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [There are indeed, in the present corruption of mankind, many incitements to forsake truth: the need of palliating our own faults and the convenience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-are-indeed-in-the-present-corruption-of-mankind-many/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Every man prefers virtue, when there is not some strong incitement to transgress its precepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-man-prefers-virtue-when-there-is-not-some-strong-incitement-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Such is the constitution of man that labour may be styled its own reward; nor will any external incitements be requisite, if it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/such-is-the-constitution-of-man-that-labour-may-be-styled-its-own/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Ever since the beginning of modern science, the best minds have recognized that "the range of acknowledged ignorance will grow with the advance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/ever-since-the-beginning-of-modern-science-the-best-minds-have/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [If people were able to be convinced that art is precise advance knowledge of how to cope with the psychic and social consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/if-people-were-able-to-be-convinced-that-art-is-precise-advance/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [most men and women, by birth or nature, lack the means to advance in wealth or power, but all have the ability to advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/most-men-and-women-by-birth-or-nature-lack-the-means-to-advance-in/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Every advance in knowledge brings us face to face with the mystery of our own being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-planck/every-advance-in-knowledge-brings-us-face-to-face-with-the-mystery-of/) [Max Planck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-planck/) > [ It is they \[men of science\] who hold the secret of the mysterious property of the mind by which error ministers to truth, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/it-is-they-men-of-science-who-hold-the-secret-of-the-mysterious/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [The advance of knowledge is an infinite progression towards a goal that ever recedes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-frazer/the-advance-of-knowledge-is-an-infinite-progression-towards-a-goal/) [James G. Frazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-frazer/) > [“The advance of knowledge deludes us into thinking we are different from other animals, but our history shows that we are not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-n-gray/the-advance-of-knowledge-deludes-us-into-thinking-we-are-different/) [John N. Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-n-gray/) > [Knowledge is now accepted as the best we humans can do at the moment, but with the hope that we will turn out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weinberger/knowledge-is-now-accepted-as-the-best-we-humans-can-do-at-the-moment/) [David Weinberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weinberger/) > [If they exert it not for good, they will for evil; if they advance not knowledge, they will perpetuate ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-wright/if-they-exert-it-not-for-good-they-will-for-evil-if-they-advance-not/) [Frances Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-wright/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) T. H. 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