QuoteProject
There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to us; and the other, from pride which comes from the wish to know what others are ignorant of.
Francois De La Rochefoucauld
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Curiosity can stem from genuine interest or from a desire to feel superior to others.

Francois De La Rochefoucauld distinguishes between two types of curiosity: the first arises from a natural interest in gaining knowledge that can benefit us, while the second is rooted in pride and the urge to acquire knowledge merely to feel superior or more knowledgeable than others. This quote invites reflection on the motives behind our quest for knowledge and encourages us to seek understanding for its intrinsic value rather than for social comparison.

Themes

CuriosityKnowledgeWisdomPrideInterest

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the different motivations for learning, one could use this quote to illustrate the depth of human curiosity.

More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld

The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind, and they are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead

Similar quotes

Where there is no novelty, there can be no curiosity.
Aphra BehnRead
But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
No one knows you better than you know yourself. Do the thing you want. Don't wait for someone else
Madonna CicconeRead
Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things.
HoraceRead
I will be patient till even patience tires of my patience.
Ali Ibn Abi TalibRead
The experienced writer says to the anguished novice: 'Just do it; get something, anything, on to the screen or page, just establish a flow of words, and criticise them later.' You give this advice but can't always take it.
Hilary MantelRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.