The need to: satisfy curiosity

Explanations > Needs > Curiosity

Kiplings' serving men | Boldly going | So what?

Curiouser and curiouser, as Alice said. Curiosity also is reputed to have killed the cat, in the cautionary reprimand that is often leveled at naturally curious children. For the rest of us, curiosity is a drive that often leads us into unknown waters.

Kipling's serving men

Rudyard Kipling named the six questions that keep a curious person going for a long time:

"I have six honest serving men

They taught me all I knew.

I call them Why and When and Where

and How and What and Who."

Questions are the route to satisfying curiosity, as all children (and parents!) know. It also needs a certain lack of concern about being able to explain things.

Boldly going

Curiosity is the drive that leads us to exploration and ultimate understanding of something new. It is the driver behind Star Trek and many more earthly bound adventurers.

So what?

Pique their curiosity. Stimulate interest. You know that you have got there when they start asking questions. Then gently lead them in the right direction. If they are truly fascinated, they will be too engrossed to realize what you are doing.

See also

Explain, Understanding