The Curious Case Of Being Curious

“Curiosity killed the cat,” goes the old proverb. So that begs the question as to whether being curious invites danger. Should one stay away from knowing and exploring more? 

The story of the apple

It all had to do with a young man seeing an apple fall from a tree more than three-and-a-half centuries ago in Woolsthorpe, England. That genius was Issac Newton who wondered why the fruit fell straight down rather than sideways or even upwards.

This incident triggered his curiosity and led him to formulate the theory of gravity, one of the core concepts of physics. So in no way did he err by being curious.

The goal is to seek an answer

It is stating the obvious that we ask questions because of our desire to know something. Let us examine a few scenarios:

• Once in a temple flooded with people, my six-year-old sprung the question at the top of his voice:”Is Hanuman married or a bachelor?” 
• The cryptic posts made by celebrities on social media inevitably open doors for discussion. Could anything be going on in their lives?
• The programmer in front of his computer wonders what strategies his co-worker uses. Perhaps seeking his colleague’s advice would help him to crack the code and produce quality work.

The thought process in each of these situations differs from the rest. In the first case, it is the innocence and keen observation of a child. Having seen other gods with their consorts, he was interested in knowing about the marital status of Lord Hanuman who is always seen alone.

The second situation has to do with hunting for information to stir up spicy conversations. 

The final scenario revolves around the interest of a person in expanding his knowledge and doing his job in an efficient manner.

Curious or Nosy? 

Everything boils down to the intent of the person and the outcome he or she desires. And that decides whether being curious is good or bad.

Are being curious and being nosy the same?

It may appear that there is just a thin line between the two actions. However, in spite of the fact that these two behaviors may feel similar, there is a marked distinction. Those who are curious are interested in acquiring knowledge for self-growth and understanding. On the other hand, a nosy individual basically intrudes into the personal territory of someone else in order to evaluate and judge. In no way does that information contribute to moral or intellectual upliftment.

For instance, reading the newspaper with undivided attention to know what is happening all around the world is being curious. Snooping and gathering news from Instagram accounts for an evening of gossip is nothing else but being nosy.

So is being curious good or bad?

It is curiosity which has paved the way for inventions and discoveries. Civilizations would not have progressed if the human mind was not restless to discover the unknown. New ideas have been born only while trying to unravel the mysteries of the universe.

Curiosity sows the seeds of exploration and enhances learning. It is like an elixir that fosters creativity and prepares one to handle challenges. Unless you have the desire to know more, how can you think of expanding the horizons of your knowledge? If there is no thirst to learn something new, the brain remains stagnant. 

Children too are encouraged to be curious in order to develop their mental faculties. It is important to make them aware of what is happening around them. 

What about improving the quality of life? Let’s talk about someone who wants to have a healthy lifestyle. He or she needs to have the drive of curiosity in order to research what to eat and what exercise routine to follow.

Scientific studies have established that a good hormone is released when we are curious. Dopamine is deemed to be the brain’s reward chemical and is intricately linked to curiosity. Once the yearning to explore and find answers is satisfied, the brain is flooded with dopamine, and the individual is filled with happiness.

Give a thought

Coming back to the quote that I started with, let me finish the story. The original form of the  proverb was “Care killed the cat” with care meaning worry for others. A version of that phrase was used in the 1598 play Every Man in His Humour by Ben Johnson. Sometime around 1868, that saying was transformed into “curiosity killed a cat”.

Through the passage of time, the proverb underwent even further changes. With a rejoinder, the Titusville Herald Newspaper on December 23, 1912 published a piece which read as: “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back!” 

Well, too much of anything, including curiosity, is not good. But with all its pros, would you risk being curious or not? The choice is yours!!!!