For the Curious Soul

By Geek Goddess on May 13, 2013 • ( 3 )

Never lose a holy curiosity – Albert Einstein

Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Curiosity is the lust of the mind. – Thomas Hobbes

Taking up a new hobby, learning a new language. Reading a book about a foreign country, a vanquished civilization, a newly discovered animal. Tasting food you’ve never heard of, meeting new people and hearing their stories, seeing a country that was once just a pink shape on a globe. Understanding what caused the rings of Saturn, the upward thrust of the Rockies, the salinity of the sea. Watching a man jump from the edge of space, with your heart in your throat, or seeing the last shuttle blast into the sky.

Do you love all these things? Are you the person who wants to know why, what, how? Are you passionate about learning? Come along with me, for we are kindred spirits.

Curiosity is one of the great secrets of happiness. – Bryant H. McGill

Curiosity of one of the forms of feminine bravery. – Victor Hugo

It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. – Albert Einstein

Later this month, on Memorial Day weekend (May 25 for those outside the U.S.), the second annual Conference of Curiosity, will be held in Chicago at the beautiful and historic Glessner House Museum. There will be activities, talks (learn about Frances Glessner, who developed an interest in ‘legal medicine’ (aka forensics) and because the only female police captain in the US – in 1943). Participate in an activity on lying and deception: how can you tell? Ask questions of a former Air Force officer who had his ‘finger on the red button.’ Learn the secret to fire-eating. See curios and oddities. Be part of Jeff Wagg’s podcast Oddments. Learn things you didn’t know you wanted to know!

It’s sort of a mental attitude about critical thinking and curiosity. It’s about mindset of looking at the world in a playful and curious and creative way. –Adam Savage

The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing. – Oscar Wilde

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

In addition to the day long activities on Saturday, there are fringe events – a night at The Magic Parlour on Friday, and a tour of ‘Curious Chicago’ on Sunday, both as options to your weekend. I’ve been on many trips with the hosts, Jeff Wagg (our fellow blogger here) and the brilliant and beautiful Jennifer Newport, and I can verify firsthand they have a knack for finding the unusual and provocative.

Complete registration information can be found here. If you are in the Chicago area, or even if you’re not but want a weekend with your like-minded seekers of knowledge, trivia, and experience, please join us. You won’t be sorry!

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

Face it. Curiosity
will not cause us to die–
only lack of it will.
Never to want to see
the other side of the hill
or that improbable country
where living is an idyll
(although a probable hell)
would kill us all.
Only the curious
have, if they live, a tale
worth telling at all. –