Curiosity Killed the Cat - origin and meaning

Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back.
The cat seldom left the apartment. He was a hearth cat, not a fence cat, and did not dearly love to sing. In other respects he was normal and hence curious.






This proverb is used to warn of the dangers of unnecessary investigation or experimentation.


A less frequently-seen rejoinder to "curiosity killed the cat"frequently-seen rejoinder to "curiosity killed the cat" is "but satisfaction brought it back"


The actual phrase appeared as the headline to a story in The Washington Post on 4 March 1916 (page 6):


CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT.


 Four Departments of New York City Government Summoned to Rescue Feline.
 From the New York World.
 Curiosity, as you may recall—
On the fifth floor of the apartment house at 203 West 130th street lives Miss Mable Godfrey. When she came to the house about seven months ago she brought Blackie, a cat of several years' experience of life.
 The cat seldom left the apartment. He was a hearth cat, not a fence cat, and did not dearly love to sing. In other respects he was normal and hence curious.

Last Tuesday afternoon when Miss Godfrey was out Blackie skipped into the grate fireplace in a rear room. He had done this many times before. But he had not climbed up the flue to the chimney. This he did Tuesday. Blackie there remained, perched on the top of the screen separating the apartment flue from the main chimney, crying for assistance. Miss Godfrey, returning, tried to induce her pet to come down. If you are experienced in felinity, you know that Blackie didn't come down.
 On Wednesday the cat, curiosity unsatisfied, tried to climb higher—and fell to the first floor. His cries could still be heard by Miss Godfrey; who, to effect Blackie's rescue, communicated with the following departments:

1. Police department.
 2. Fire department.
 3. Health department.
 4. Building department.
 5. Washington Heights court.
 Among them they lowered a rope to Blackie. But it availed neither the cat nor them anything.
 Thursday morning, just before noon, a plumber opened the rear wall back of the chimney. Blackie was taken out. His fall had injured his back. Ten minutes later Blackie died.


Now you know the meaning. 😊
I didn't until I read the story.


Don't forget to share.




Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curiosity_killed_the_cat