Chapter IV.

Abstract

Curiosity may be called the hunger and thirst of the mind. A desire to know the causes of events, and to trace their effects, adheres to every condition of life. It is manifested in children at an early period, while phUosophers have never ceased to push their researches into the phenomena of nature and the motives of human action, in aU ages of the Avorld. At the appearance of an epidemic, every one is ready to assign a cause; and after the lapse of years of conjecture and toil, physicians stiU continue their researches into the origin of the cholera.A war breaks out between nations-we straightway inquire the causes of quarrel, discuss, approve, or condemn the motives of the parties, deplore the consequent waste of Ufe, and aU its attendant evils.