Curiosity Silenced the Uncurious Cat

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:12:48 -0600

Curiosity killed the cat or so the saying goes. What does this mean? Be careful. Don’t be curious. You just might get yourself hurt. Better to stay at home, safe and sound.

Except that’s not at all what the saying says. The full saying is:

“Curiosity killed the cat,
But satisfaction brought it back.”

Curiosity brings danger, uncertainty, and sometimes even death. But sometimes curiosity brings satisfaction. Curiosity requires risk, and risk is the potential for reward. Historically the people who have been the most rewarded are among those who took the greatest risks. (Of course, the ones who have been the most punished are also among those who took the greatest risks.) Wisdom, is the ability to discern which risks are worth taking.

On the Ambuguities of Sorry

Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

In the modern cultural landscape, few phrases are as scrutinized, debated, and often dismissed as the public apology. When a public figure faces backlash, warranted or not, the inevitable “sorry” statement often follows. Yet, these pronouncements frequently ring hollow, sounding more like carefully crafted PR than genuine contrition. This pervasive sense of inauthenticity highlights a deeper issue: the inherent ambiguity embedded within the word “sorry” itself. This ambiguity transforms apologies into a societal Rorschach test, fueling division and tribalism, and underscores a critical need for greater clarity in our language and interactions.

Language on Daniel Lyons

Curiosity Silenced the Uncurious Cat

On the Ambuguities of Sorry

Introduction