Let me warn you against the indulgence of a spirit of curiosity. It gives the enemy of our souls frequent great advantage to injure us, and to retard us, to say the least, in our progress heavenward. The principle of curiosity, leading us to inquire, obtain information and knowledge, and reflect on what we hear and observe, is good. It attaches to us as rational creatures. It is implanted in men by God. But it often leads us astray, causing us to indulge in much unprofitable reading; in lending an itching ear to political news, and to the circulating gossip of families and of the town we live in. Like the Athenians of old, there are some who spend much or most of their daily time (that precious talent given by God to our careful trust and improvement), in telling or in hearing some new thing. One of the evils of this spirit of curiosity is, that excluding what is of value, it fills mind and bead with what is unprofitable, or worse. The spirit of God will not dwell in a mind pressed down and running over with foolish and vain imaginations, such as the bitterness of party politics, and reports, often idle, often cruel and unjust, of our town and locality. Another evil is that it wars with that quietness of spirit, and that pondering in the heart of God's words and ways, which marked the character of the Blessed Mother of Our Lord, and is very conducive to our preparation for Eternal Life. Indeed the indulgence of this spirit of curiosity, which so easily possesses us, strikes at the very life of religion in our souls. For the love of news and gossip, become an idol; and has as much power over those who give way to it, as the greed of gold has over a miser. They worship news as much as some worship money. And how can the love of God rule within a heart distracted with passing occurrences, and an unregulated inquiry after reports often untrue, often, if true, not at all concerning us or others to whom we speak of them. Restrain this tendency, and building yourselves on your most Holy Faith, praying in the Holy Ghost keep yourselves in the love of God, and in patient waiting for Christ.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp