98 Curiosity Quotes for Curious Minds

If you have been feeling indifferent about learning new things lately, here are 98 quotes to reignite a sense of curiosity in you and inspire some learning.

Curiosity is the ability to seek and acquire new knowledge, skills, and ways of understanding the world. There are endless things to learn as one grows older, and satisfying one's curiosity leads to different kinds of personal and social development.

Curious people are open to seeing new worlds and possibilities. They are more optimistic, happier, and successful. Nobody wants a dull, boring life.

To keep the monotony away, we need to remain open to learning about ourselves, people near and far, and the phenomena that surround us daily. If you or someone you love has been stuck in perpetual indifference, here are 98 quotes to reignite your sense of curiosity.

Adam Grant 's quote: “Your greatest teachers aren’t the ones who know the most. They’re the ones who want to know the most.” | Image: AmoDays

QUOTES THAT DESCRIBE CURIOSITY

“Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.” — Samuel Johnson

“Curiosity is insubordination in its purest form.” — Vladimir Nabokov

“If knowledge is power, then curiosity is the muscle.” — Danielle LaPorte

“The secret of success is an absolute ungovernable curiosity.” — Larry King

“Free curiosity is of more value than harsh discipline.” — Augustine of Hippo

Tim Ferriss's quote: “Follow your intellectual curiosity over whatever is “hot” right now. If your curiosity ever leads you to a place where society eventually wants to go, you’ll get paid extremely well.” | Image: AmoDays

“The best students in school seek to satisfy their teachers. The best students in life seek to satisfy their curiosity.” — Johnny Uzan

“There are different kinds of curiosity: one springs from interest, which makes us desire to know everything that may be profitable to us; another from pride, which springs from a desire of knowing what others are ignorant of.” — François de La Rochefoucauld

“I am afraid that our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, and that we have more curiosity than understanding. We grasp at everything but catch nothing except wind.” — Michel de Montaigne

“Curiosity is more flexible and practical than belief.” — Steve Pavlina

“The human brain is capable of only one strong emotion at a time, and if it be filled with curiosity or scientific enthusiasm, there is no room for fear. “ — Arthur Conan Doyle

Criss Jami's quote: “Beyond all sciences, philosophies, theologies, and histories, a child’s relentless inquiry is truly all it takes to remind us that we don’t know as much as we think we know.” | Image: AmoDays

QUOTES TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CURIOSITY

“Curiosity and questions will get you further than confidence and answers.” — Maxime Lagacé

“Boredom leads to one of these two things: more boredom or more creativity.” — Matthew Kobach

“Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead.” — Susan Sontag

“Be a loner. That gives you time to wonder, to search for the truth. Have holy curiosity. Make your life worth living.” — Albert Einstein

“Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent, and original manner possible.” — Richard Feynman

Adam Grant's quote: “In school and in life, success depends less on how much we know than on how much we want to learn. The purpose of education is not just to impart knowledge; it’s to instill curiosity. Intrinsic motivation is fueled by mystery, exploration, and meaning.”| Image: AmoDays

“Learning is by nature curiosity… prying into everything, reluctant to leave anything, material or immaterial, unexplained.” — Philo

“Read to satisfy your own natural curiosity, not to impress or accomplish.” — Naval Ravikant

“A fool protects his reputation. The wise man asks questions.” — Maxime Lagacé

“The more you know, the more you want to know. Not only that, but the more you know, the more connections you can make between the different bits of knowledge that you have in your head and therefore the more ideas you have, which is why curiosity is really the wellspring of creativity.” — Georgina Venning

“Intellectually curious people — people who are capable of learning throughout their career, of asking questions (good questions), of adapting and collaborating with others from different disciplines; people who are capable of really thriving in this world of non-routine work, in other words — are the people who are going to do better.” — Georgina Venning

Maxime Lagacé's quote: “Curiosity and questions will get you further than confidence and answers.” | Image: AmoDays

“Curiosity is essential for progress. Only when we look to worlds beyond our own can we really know if there’s room for improvement.” — Simon Sinek

“Curiosity might be pictured as being made up of chains of small questions extending outwards, sometimes over huge distances, from a central hub composed of a few blunt, large questions.” — Alain De Botton

“Develop into a lifelong self-learner through voracious reading; cultivate curiosity and strive to become a little wiser every day.” — Charlie Munger

“You’ll never be exceptional at something unless you think about it all the time.” — Shane Parrish

“Follow your own curiosity, and start looking internally instead of externally for the answers. Be honest with yourself about the intersection of your skills, your passions, and what the world values.” — Sam Altman

Matthew KobachImage's quote: “Boredom leads to one of these two things: more boredom or more creativity.” | Image: AmoDays

“A lack of gratitude and a lack of curiosity are two of the most dangerous gaps in life. Fill them in and life changes for the better.” — Thibaut

“Be ambitious, but more than that, be inquisitive and curious. The day your curiosity dies, you may as well retire.” — Thibaut

“Follow your intellectual curiosity over whatever is “hot” right now. If your curiosity ever leads you to a place where society eventually wants to go, you’ll get paid extremely well.” — Tim Ferriss

“Beyond all sciences, philosophies, theologies, and histories, a child’s relentless inquiry is truly all it takes to remind us that we don’t know as much as we think we know.” — Criss Jami

“Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.” — Samuel Johnson

Susan Sontag's quote: “Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead.”| Image: AmoDays

“The curious mind embraces science; the gifted and sensitive, the arts; the practical, business; the leftover becomes an economist.” — Nassim Nicholas Taleb

“Question like a child, reason like an adult, and write like a sage.” — Criss Jami

“Curiosity is a muscle — use it or lose it. It’s something that we consciously have to nurture in ourselves, in our families, in classrooms, at work.” — Georgina Venning

“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” — Ellen Parr

“Curiosity takes ignorance seriously and is confident enough to admit when it does not know. It is aware of not knowing, and it sets out to do something about it.” — Alain de Botton

Albert Einstein's quote: “Be a loner. That gives you time to wonder, to search for the truth. Have holy curiosity. Make your life worth living.” | Image: AmoDays

“Curiosity is unruly. It doesn’t like rules, or, at least, it assumes that all rules are provisional, subject to the laceration of a smart question nobody has yet thought to ask. It disdains the approved pathways, preferring diversions, unplanned excursions, impulsive left turns. In short, curiosity is deviant.” — Ian Leslie

“If you aren’t curious about it, you’ll never be good at it.” — Naval Ravikant

“Ignorance is a choice. Curiosity is a cure. It motivates people to educate themselves.” — Adam Grant

“Curiosity fuels creativity, reduces confirmation bias, and prevents stereotyping. But the more we emphasize efficiency, the less curious people become. To promote a culture of curiosity, make time to ask ‘What if?’ and ‘How might we?’” — Adam Grant

“In school and in life, success depends less on how much we know than on how much we want to learn. The purpose of education is not just to impart knowledge; it’s to instill curiosity. Intrinsic motivation is fueled by mystery, exploration, and meaning.” — Adam Grant

Richard Feynman's quote: “Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent, and original manner possible.” | Image: AmoDays

“Knowledge is the compound interest of curiosity.” — James Clear

“Your greatest teachers aren’t the ones who know the most. They’re the ones who want to know the most.” — Adam Grant

“Curiosity is the superpower for the second half of our lives — it keeps us learning, it keeps us asking questions, and it increases our self-awareness.” — Brené Brown

“Schools are about teaching compliance not fostering curiosity.” — Shane Parrish

“Curiosity + Focus + Intention = a gateway to growth.” — Shane Parrish

Philo's quote: “Learning is by nature curiosity… prying into everything, reluctant to leave anything, material or immaterial, unexplained.” | Image: AmoDays

“Knowledge gained through curiosity is way different than knowledge gained through obligation. Do not stand in the way of a child’s curiosity. It is her greatest asset.” — Thibaut

“To improve your judgment, learn how to feel intrigued instead of defensive when we encounter new information that contradicts your beliefs.” — Thibaut

“Knowledge is cheap, curiosity is priceless.” — Thibaut

“Curiosity is innate, but smothered via socialization and distractions. Spend enough time alone and it will return.” — Naval Ravikant

“Genuine learning is impossible without curiosity.” — Naval Ravikant

Naval Ravikant's quote: “Read to satisfy your own natural curiosity, not to impress or accomplish.” | Image: AmoDays

SELF-REFLECTIVE CURIOSITY QUOTES

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” — Albert Einstein

“I don’t know anything, but I do know that everything is interesting if you go into it deeply enough.” — Richard Feynman

“If I know what I shall find, I do not want to find it. Uncertainty is the salt of life.” — Erwin Chargaff

“I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

“Increasingly, I feel curiosity and an eagerness to learn is the most crucial skill in life. If you’re not curious, I’m not sure if there is much others can do to help you. But if you’re eager to learn, even if you aren’t particularly talented, then so much is possible.” — James Clear

Maxime Lagacé's quote: “A fool protects his reputation. The wise man asks questions.” | Image: AmoDays

“I set out to discover the why of it and to transform my pleasure into knowledge.” — Charles Baudelaire

SHORT CURIOSITY QUOTES

“Intelligence follows curiosity.” — James Clear

“Curiosity is the engine of achievement.” — Ken Robinson

“Intellectual curiosity is a superpower.” — Anthony Pompliano

“The love of knowledge is a kind of madness.” — C.S. Lewis

Georgina Venning's quote: “The more you know, the more you want to know. Not only that, but the more you know, the more connections you can make between the different bits of knowledge that you have in your head and therefore the more ideas you have, which is why curiosity is really the wellspring of creativity.” | Image: AmoDays

“Curiosity is the real teacher.” — Thibaut

“Curiosity is more important than IQ.” — Ana Lorena Fabrega

“Curiosity is the beginning of all wisdom. — Françoise Sagan

“Curiosity is a mind in search of knowledge.” — Thibaut

“Let your curiosity be greater than your fear.” — Pema Chödrön

Georgina Venning's quote: “Intellectually curious people — people who are capable of learning throughout their career, of asking questions (good questions), of adapting and collaborating with others from different disciplines; people who are capable of really thriving in this world of non-routine work, in other words — are the people who are going to do better.” | Image: AmoDays

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” — Socrates

“The knowledge of all things is possible.” — Leonardo da Vinci

“Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them.” — Carl Sagan

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. — Plutarch

“The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity.” — Anatole France

Simon Sinek 's quote: “Curiosity is essential for progress. Only when we look to worlds beyond our own can we really know if there’s room for improvement.” | Image: AmoDays

“Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.” — Bernard Baruch

“Curiosity is the one thing invincible in Nature.” — Freya Stark

“Mere curiosity adds wings to every step.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Curiosity is the most powerful thing you own.” — James Cameron

“If you open your hand, you may receive everything.” — Dogen

Alain De Botton's quote: “Curiosity might be pictured as being made up of chains of small questions extending outwards, sometimes over huge distances, from a central hub composed of a few blunt, large questions.” | Image: AmoDays

“Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.” — James Stephens

“Pride is for fools. Humility is for the wise.” — Maxime Lagacé

“Less certainty. More curiosity.” — Neil Strauss

“Exploration is curiosity put into action.” — Don Walsh

Charlie Munger's quote: “Develop into a lifelong self-learner through voracious reading; cultivate curiosity and strive to become a little wiser every day.” | Image: AmoDays

THE IMPORTANCE OF CURIOSITY

“The day we stop exploring is the day we commit ourselves to live in a stagnant world, devoid of curiosity, empty of dreams.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson

“Along with intellectual curiosity, we need interpersonal curiosity. Taking an interest in other people is the beginning of empathy.” — Adam Grant

“There are no foolish questions, and no man becomes a fool until he has stopped asking questions.” — Charles Proteus Steinmetz

“Following your genuine intellectual curiosity is a better foundation for a career than following whatever is making money right now.” — Naval Ravikant

Shane Parrish's quote: “You’ll never be exceptional at something unless you think about it all the time.” | Image: AmoDays

“It is very hard to do good work without being optimistic, exceptionally determined, and intellectually curious.” — Sam Altman

“The worst decision most adults make is to stop asking questions — trading their curiosity for the appearance of competence.” — Sven Schnieders

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” — Walt Disney

“There are two different types of people in the world, those who want to know, and those who want to believe.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

“I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Sam Altman's quote: “Follow your own curiosity, and start looking internally instead of externally for the answers. Be honest with yourself about the intersection of your skills, your passions, and what the world values.” | Image: AmoDays

“Curiosity is only vanity. We usually only want to know something so that we can talk about it.” — Blaise Pascal

“To be curious about that which is not one’s concern while still in ignorance of oneself is absurd.” — Plato

“The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of the mind for the purpose of satisfying it afterward.” — Anatole France

“What you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow.” — Norton Juster

“Success in anything is just a byproduct of learning, and learning is a byproduct of curiosity. Ultimately, if you are curious about something, you will be successful at it, and the more curious you are about it, the more successful you will be at it.” — Naval Ravikant

Thibaut's quote: “A lack of gratitude and a lack of curiosity are two of the most dangerous gaps in life. Fill them in and life changes for the better.” | Image: AmoDays

“In modern society, most people have access to the same information. People are distinguished much more by the questions they ask than by the answers they have access to.” — James Pierce

“It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry.” — Albert Einstein

“The public has an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing.” — Oscar Wilde

“This delicate little plant [curiosity], aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom.” — Albert Einstein

Thibaut's quote: “Be ambitious, but more than that, be inquisitive and curious. The day your curiosity dies, you may as well retire.” | Image: AmoDays

When learning new things feels too difficult, it can be far too easy to retreat to a place of blissful ignorance. It can also be easy to justify that our lives have been so long that it’s no longer necessary to learn new things, relegating curiosity to a child’s game.

But the truth is, curiosity keeps the mind young. It helps us continuously learn new things about ourselves, which is a gift. And it doesn’t matter what we may be curious about; what matters is that we keep on learning.

If these quotes encouraged your eagerness to learn new things, you'd enjoy these quotes about the quiet power of introverts.