Cat killer

By Jon Ferry Curiosity, they say, killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. There’s risk and reward, in other words, in being inquisitive and snoopy. Curiosity drives the bold and brave to dive into a water-filled cave … or tunnel deep into rocky ground in search of priceless, boundless booty. It pushes diggers to reveal the truth, whether in a churchyard or phone booth, and to replace dark fibs and falsehoods with the radiance of honesty. It propels everything from space travel to exploration for gold-rich gravel, motivating the quest for knowledge and the pursuit of life-giving liberty. Curiosity is the “lust of the mind”, Thomas Hobbes said, not being unkind. It’s the pleasure humans derive from crushing lies and exposing reality. It fuels a hungry thirst to learn, even if it makes some people squirm, and causes others to be labelled a a spy, snoop or meddling busybody. Isabel Archer of Henry James fame was an immensely curious dame. She was “constantly staring and wondering” … but she ended up in purgatory. Curiosity may spark storytelling with a somewhat melancholy ending. But it's often the first crucial step in standing up to mindless authority.