18. Forasmuch as all _knowledge_ beginneth from _experience_, therefore also _new experience_ is the beginning of _new knowledge_, and the increase of experience the beginning of the increase of knowledge. Whatsoever therefore happeneth new to a man, giveth him matter of _hope_ of _knowing_ somewhat that he knew _not before_. And this hope and expectation of future knowledge from anything that happeneth new and strange, is that passion which we commonly call _admiration_; and the same considered as appetite, is called _curiosity_, which is appetite of knowledge. As in the discerning of faculties, _man leaveth_ all community with _beasts_ at the faculty of _imposing names_; so also doth he surmount their nature at this _passion_ of _curiosity_. For when a beast seeth anything new and strange to him, he considereth it so far only as to discern whether it be likely to serve his turn, or hurt him, and accordingly approacheth nearer to it, or fleeth from it: whereas man, who in most events remembereth in what manner they were caused and begun, looketh for the cause and beginning of everything that ariseth new unto him. And from this passion of admiration and curiosity, have arisen not only the invention of names, but also supposition of such causes of all things as they thought might produce them. And from this beginning is derived all _philosophy_; as _astronomy_ from the admiration of the course of heaven; _natural philosophy_ from the strange effects of the elements and other bodies. And from the degrees of curiosity, proceed also the degrees of knowledge amongst men: for, to a man in the chase of riches or authority, (which in respect of knowledge are but sensuality) it is a diversity of little pleasure, whether it be the motion of the sun or the earth that maketh the day, or to enter into other contemplations of any strange accident, otherwise than whether it conduce or not to the end he pursueth. Because _curiosity_ is _delight_, therefore also _novelty_ is so, but especially that novelty from which a man conceiveth an _opinion_ true or false of _bettering_ his own estate; for, in such case, they stand affected with the hope that all gamesters have while the cards are shuffling. [Sidenote: Of the passion of them that flock to see danger.]