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The basic drive behind real philosophy is curiosity about the world, not interest in the writings of philosophers.

— Bryan Magee Confessions of a Philosopher (1997)

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Curiosity

More quotes by Bryan Magee

I have very strongly this feeling... that our everyday life is at one and the same time banal, overfamiliar, platitudinous and yet mysterious and extraordinary.

Heidegger and Modern Existentialism (1977)

As Voltaire once remarked, "It is the privilege of the real genius, especially one who opens up a new path, to make great mistakes with impunity."

Confessions of a Philosopher (1997)

It could be that the total scenario for human beings is an insoluble mystery until we die, followed by nothing at all.

Confessions of a Philosopher (1997)

Because of the fundamental character of these problems, and because Kant did not solve them, confronting them has been the most important challenge to philosophy ever since.

Confessions of a Philosopher (1997)

I am as baffled now by the larger metaphysical questions of my existence as I was when I was a child — indeed more so, because my understanding of the depths and difficulties of the questions themselves is now so much greater.

Confessions of a Philosopher (1997)

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Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

Samuel Johnson The Rambler (1750)

My brain, otherwise a sound instrument, has a serious defect—a hypertrophied lobe of curiosity.

Jack Vance The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph (1966)

Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.

James Stephens

Things that people learn purely out of curiosity can have a revolutionary effect on human affairs.

Frederick Seitz

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Bryan Magee (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.