The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
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.
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
All quotes →Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.
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Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.
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Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
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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.
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To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
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