Pebbles.

When you are walking along, and a pebble finds its way into your shoe, what do you do?

You stop and remove the pebble.

Perhaps I place a pebble in my shoe and begin walking.

Why?

Both situations yield equivalent experience. One is to address a necessary demand, the other is the creation of an unnecessary demand.

The first leads to an ordinary accumulation of knowledge. The second, creative, act leads to an extraordinary accumulation of knowledge.

This is curiosity.

Perhaps we could save ourselves much discomfort by only attending the problems that find their way to us? Or, perhaps it is this curiosity that provides the ultimate satisfaction?