I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there.
In plain words
He was born knowing nothing and spent his life fixing that.
Where these words come from
- 44% sureLots of sources credit Richard Feynman with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
- Used as the epigraph of James Gleick's biography Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman (1992); no specific primary interview/letter identified.
More on curiosity
Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.
PlatoI don't study to know more, but to ignore less.
Sor Juana Inés de la CruzThere are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
William ShakespeareWe live in a beautiful and wonderful world, and the more you know about it the wiser and the better you will be.
Louisa May AlcottThese are times in which a genius would wish to live.
Abigail AdamsPhilosophy is the microscope of the thought.
Victor Hugo
PlatoI don't study to know more, but to ignore less.Sor Juana Inés de la CruzThere are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.William ShakespeareWe live in a beautiful and wonderful world, and the more you know about it the wiser and the better you will be.Louisa May AlcottThese are times in which a genius would wish to live.Abigail AdamsPhilosophy is the microscope of the thought.Victor HugoMore science
See allNothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.
Marie CurieOne never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.Marie CurieBe less curious about people and more curious about ideas.Marie CurieLook deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Albert EinsteinThe important thing is not to stop questioning.Albert EinsteinImagination is more important than knowledge.Albert Einstein
Marie CurieOne never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.Marie CurieBe less curious about people and more curious about ideas.Marie CurieLook deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.Albert EinsteinThe important thing is not to stop questioning.Albert EinsteinImagination is more important than knowledge.Albert Einstein