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Curiosity

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

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A propensity or disposition of the soul which inclines it to enquire after new objects, and to delight in viewing them. Curiosity is proper, when it springs from a desire to know our duty, to mature our judgments, to enlarge our minds, and to regulate our conduct; but improper when it wishes to know more of God, of the decrees; the origin or evil; the state of men, or the nature of things, than it is designed for us to know. The evil of this is evident. It reproaches God's goodness; it is a violation of Scripture, Deuteronomy 22:29; it robs us of our time; it often makes us unhappy, lessens our usefulness, and produces mischief. To cure this disposition let us consider the divine command, Philippians 4:6 . that every thing essential is revealed; that God cannot err; that we shall be satisfied in a future state, Is. 13: 7. Curiosity concerning the affairs of others is exceedingly reprehensible. "It interrupts, " says an elegant writer, "the order, and breaks the peace of society. Persons of this disposition are dangerous troublers of the world. Crossing the lines in which others move, they create confusion, and awaken resentment.

Hence, many a friendship has been broken; the peace of many a family has been overthrown; and much bitter and lasting discord has been propagated through society. Such a disposition is entirely the reverse of that amiable spirit of charity our Lord inculcates. Charity, like the sun, brightens every object on which it shines: a censorious disposition casts every character into the darkest shade it will bear. It is to be further observed, that all impertinent curiosity about the affairs of others tends greatly to obstruct personal reformation. They who are so officiously occupied about their neighbours, have little leisure, and less inclination, to observe their own defects, or to mind their own duty. From their inquisitive researches, they find, or imagine they find, in the behaviour of others, an apology for their own failings; and the favourite result of their enquiries generally is, to rest satisfied with themselves.

We should consider, also, that every excursion of vain curiosity about others is a subtraction from that time and thought which are due to ourselves, and to God. In the great circle of human affairs, there is room for every one to be busy, and well employed in his own province, without encroaching upon that of others. It is the province of superiors to direct; of inferiors to obey; of the learned to be instructive; of the ignorant to be docile; of the old to be communicative; of the young to be adviseable and diligent. In all the various relations which subsist among us in life, as husband and wife, master and servants, parents and children, relations and friends, rulers and subjects, innumerable duties stand ready to be performed; innumerable calls to activity present themselves on every hand, sufficient to fill up with advantage and honour the whole time of man." Blair's Serm. vol. 4: ser. 8; Clark's Serm. ser. on Deuteronomy 29:29;

Seed's Posth. Serm. ser. 7.