The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases

The words of Laurence Sterne, “The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it,” reveal one of the most profound truths of the human spirit — that the pursuit of knowledge is a hunger that grows stronger the more it is fed. Spoken by the eighteenth-century novelist and thinker, these words are both an observation and a warning. Sterne, who lived in an age of enlightenment and exploration, understood that curiosity is not a fire that diminishes with satisfaction, but one that blazes higher with every spark. For every truth uncovered, the horizon of the unknown stretches farther, calling the seeker ever onward.

To understand his meaning, one must first see the nature of desire itself. Just as the miser’s appetite for wealth is never sated — for each coin gained only sharpens the longing for another — so too does the mind crave understanding with relentless intensity. But unlike greed for gold, the thirst for knowledge can be both noble and dangerous. Noble, because it lifts us from ignorance and brings us closer to wisdom; dangerous, because when misdirected, it can lead to arrogance, obsession, or the illusion of mastery. Sterne’s words, therefore, are not merely poetic; they are cautionary — reminding us that learning is both an ascent and a test of humility.

In his time, the world was awakening to the power of science and reason. The stars were being charted, the laws of motion written, and the secrets of the human heart explored by philosophers and poets alike. It was an age when humanity began to believe it could measure all things — yet Sterne, a man of faith and wit, saw the irony in this awakening. He understood that the more mankind learns, the more it realizes how little it truly knows. Every answer births a thousand questions, and every discovery reveals deeper mysteries. Thus, knowledge, though precious, is never complete — it is an infinite quest that humbles the wise even as it inspires them.

Consider the story of Isaac Newton, who after uncovering the laws of gravity and motion, looked back on his life and said, “I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore… finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” This is the essence of Sterne’s insight. Newton possessed more knowledge than any man of his age, yet with each revelation came a deeper awareness of the vastness that remained unknown. His desire for knowledge did not fade with discovery — it deepened, transforming from ambition into reverence. For true learning does not inflate pride; it opens the soul to wonder.

The origin of this quote lies not only in Sterne’s keen observation of human nature but in his understanding of the paradox of the intellect. In his famed work Tristram Shandy, he often mocked the pretensions of scholars who mistook information for wisdom. His wit carried a message: that the greatest minds are not those who know the most, but those who continue to seek, question, and doubt. Knowledge, like gold, must be tempered by virtue, for without moral direction, it can corrupt as easily as it enlightens. Thus, Sterne’s comparison between riches and wisdom is deliberate — both tempt the heart, but only one has the power to elevate it.

In the ancient world, the philosopher Socrates expressed a similar truth when he declared, “I know that I know nothing.” This was not despair, but enlightenment. For the more he examined the world, the more he saw the vastness of truth beyond his grasp. His thirst for understanding never ceased, because he recognized that learning was not a path with an end, but a river flowing endlessly into eternity. It is this eternal yearning that defines the human spirit — the will to know, to grow, to reach beyond the limits of the self toward something greater.

Let this be the lesson of Sterne’s wisdom: seek knowledge as one seeks water in the desert — with reverence, not greed. Let learning be the means of awakening, not possession. Rejoice in what you discover, but never believe that you have arrived. For the mind that claims mastery has already begun to decay, while the mind that keeps learning remains forever alive. As you grow in understanding, let humility be your companion, and wonder your guide.

For in the end, the desire of knowledge is the noblest thirst — not because it can be quenched, but because it teaches us to love the pursuit itself. Each truth you find is but a stepping stone to deeper mysteries, and in walking this endless path, you become part of something eternal — the great, ceaseless unfolding of the universe itself.