All men naturally desire knowledge. An indication of this is our esteem for the senses; for apart from their use we esteem them for their own sake, and most of all the sense of sight. Not only with a view to action, but even when no action is contemplated, we prefer sight, generally speaking, to all the other senses. The reason of this is that of all the senses sight best helps us to know things, and reveals many distinctions.
AristotleThus every action must be due to one or other of seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reasoning, anger, or appetite.
AristotleWe should venture on the study of every kind of animal without distaste; for each and all will reveal to us something natural and something beautiful.
Aristotle