--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am far from any intention to limit…" description: "\"I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is only from the various ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/samuel-johnson-50_advancement_i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-cur_29967.png" --- # I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine… ![“I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is only from the various essays of experimental industry, and the vague excursions of mind set upon discovery, that any advancement of knowledge can be expected; and though…” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/samuel-johnson-50_advancement_i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-cur_29967.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/samuel-johnson-50_advancement_i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-cur_29967.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/samuel-johnson-50_advancement_i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-cur_29967.png) > “I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is only from the various essays of experimental industry, and the vague excursions of mind set upon discovery, that any advancement of knowledge can be expected; and though many must be disappointed in their labours, yet they are not to be charged with having spent their time in vain; their example contributed to inspire emulation, and their miscarriage taught others the way to success.” [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. Advocates unrestricted curiosity and exploratory research, arguing that even seemingly impractical work fuels future breakthroughs and teaches valuable lessons. **In simple terms:** Value of pure curiosity in progress Key Takeaway Exploration yields indirect, lasting benefits Themes curiosity exploration learning innovation failure inspiration Mood inspired reflective optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - academic research - R&D labs - creative brainstorming - entrepreneurial ventures - artistic experimentation Key Concepts knowledge advancement experimental industry serendipity learning from failure Practical Applications - Designing policy that funds basic research - Encouraging interdisciplinary projects Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance immediate needs with long‑term curiosity? - What mechanisms turn failed experiments into future successes? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advancement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Emulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emulation/) [Essays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essays/) [Essays Experimental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essays-experimental-423628/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Excursions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excursions/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Experimental Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experimental-industry-423626/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Labours Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labours-learning-423627/) [Limit Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limit-curiosity-423625/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-set/) [Miscarriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miscarriage/) [Necessary use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary-use/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Vague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vague/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) [Various](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/various/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way to success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-to-success/) ## Related quotes > [Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last; and perhaps always predominates in proportion to the strength of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/curiosity-is-in-great-and-generous-minds-the-first-passion-and-the-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/at-length-weariness-succeeds-to-labor-and-the-mind-lies-at-ease-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The chief art of learning, as Locke has observed, is to attempt but little at a time. The widest excursions of the mind are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-chief-art-of-learning-as-locke-has-observed-is-to-attempt-but/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It may be necessary to use methods other than constitutional ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/it-may-be-necessary-to-use-methods-other-than-constitutional-ones/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [The right to use a thing comprehends a right to the means necessary to its use, and without which it would be useless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-right-to-use-a-thing-comprehends-a-right-to-the-means-necessary/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It will sometimes be necessary to use falsehood for the benefit of those who need such a mode of treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eusebius/it-will-sometimes-be-necessary-to-use-falsehood-for-the-benefit-of/) [Eusebius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eusebius/) > [When the toll upon carriages of luxury, upon coaches, post-chaises, etc. is made somewhat higher in proportion to their weight, than upon carriages of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/when-the-toll-upon-carriages-of-luxury-upon-coaches-post-chaises-etc/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [One of the greatest sermons ever pronounced on missionary work is this simple thought attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: 'Preach the gospel at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/one-of-the-greatest-sermons-ever-pronounced-on-missionary-work-is/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Men in Government monopolize the necessary use of force; they are not using their energies productively; they are not milking cows. To get butter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-wilder-lane/men-in-government-monopolize-the-necessary-use-of-force-they-are-not/) [Rose Wilder Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-wilder-lane/) > [In a world characterized by loneliness and despair, we can reach out in love to those around us. Or, as St. Francis once said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-callaway/in-a-world-characterized-by-loneliness-and-despair-we-can-reach-out/) [Phil Callaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-callaway/) > [Do all you can to preach the gospel and if necessary use words!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/do-all-you-can-to-preach-the-gospel-and-if-necessary-use-words/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [It's necessary to use suffering. Otherwise, one is used by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-clifford-barney/it-s-necessary-to-use-suffering-otherwise-one-is-used-by-it/) [Natalie Clifford Barney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-clifford-barney/) > [If God were not a necessary Being of Himself, He might almost seem to be made for the use and benefit of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/if-god-were-not-a-necessary-being-of-himself-he-might-almost-seem-to/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Dancing serves no necessary use, no profitable, laudable, or pious end at all. It is only from the inbred pravity, vanity, wantonness, incontinency, pride,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-prynne/dancing-serves-no-necessary-use-no-profitable-laudable-or-pious-end/) [William Prynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-prynne/) > [What I do, the teacher of the nagual, is open up the bubble of your luminosity and allow the luminous being to take short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/what-i-do-the-teacher-of-the-nagual-is-open-up-the-bubble-of-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## 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 Advancement quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [They either attach themselves to God's will, which results in their continuous progress, improvement and advancement, or they oppose God's will, are justly subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/they-either-attach-themselves-to-god-s-will-which-results-in-their/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [We have won the time lottery of the last 4 billion years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/we-have-won-the-time-lottery-of-the-last-4-billion-years/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“Creativity is key to productivity and prosperity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/creativity-is-key-to-productivity-and-prosperity/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [No one can stop the advancement of a country wheretalent is recognized properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/no-one-can-stop-the-advancement-of-a-country-wheretalent-is/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Each restorational advancement of the Army of the Lord has established denominational forts that are given responsibility to maintain the purity and power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hamon/each-restorational-advancement-of-the-army-of-the-lord-has/) [Bill Hamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hamon/) > [Setting is preliminary to brighter rising; decay is a process of advancement; death is the condition of higher and more fruitful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/setting-is-preliminary-to-brighter-rising-decay-is-a-process-of/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Certainly, none of us enjoy going through struggles, but you have to understand that your struggle may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/certainly-none-of-us-enjoy-going-through-struggles-but-you-have-to/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Always work towards a dream or you'll always dream of working elsewhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/always-work-towards-a-dream-or-you-ll-always-dream-of-working/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Those who are successfully to lead their fellow-men, should have once possessed the nobler feelings. We have all known individuals whose magnanimity was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/those-who-are-successfully-to-lead-their-fellow-men-should-have-once/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [Genetic engineering is a result of science advancement, so I don't think that in itself is bad. If used wisely, genetics can be beneficial,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/genetic-engineering-is-a-result-of-science-advancement-so-i-don-t/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [ZIPPING THROUGH DIMENSIONS WITH INTENTIONS OF ADVANCEMENT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeileon/zipping-through-dimensions-with-intentions-of-advancement/) [AEILEON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeileon/) > [Our civilization is experiencing unprecedented changes across many realms, largely due to the rapid advancement of information technology. The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There is a material advancement; we desire it. There is, also, a moral grandeur; we hold fast to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-a-material-advancement-we-desire-it-there-is-also-a-moral/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) [Browse all 423 Advancement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. 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