"I am one of the people who love the why of things"

Curiosity stands at the core of intellectual advancement and discovery. The phrase encapsulates an active yearning to look beneath the surface, not simply accepting facts at face value but constantly probing deeper into their origins and purposes. To love the "why" of things is to possess an innate desire to understand causes, mechanisms, and motivations. For Catherine the Great, an esteemed ruler and Enlightenment thinker, this passion for inquiry was not a mere academic exercise but a guiding principle that shaped her approach to leadership, reform, and personal growth.

Such an outlook signifies a restless intellect, one that refuses complacency or superficiality. It involves a willingness to ask difficult questions, challenge traditions, and entertain new ideas. Individuals who are drawn to the “why” tend to pursue knowledge not as a duty but as a source of genuine joy and fulfillment. Their inquisitiveness often leads them to innovation and progress, as they seek to improve circumstances and solve problems through deeper comprehension.

Loving the “why” also reflects humility. It acknowledges the vast complexity of the world and one’s own limitations. To repeatedly ask “why?” is to admit that one does not yet have all the answers. This humility underlies a scientific approach; it prefers evidence and reason over mere assertion or blind adherence to prior ways. For a ruler like Catherine, known for her patronage of the arts and sciences, embracing the “why” fostered a culture of dialogue and reform, allowing her court and country to benefit from diverse perspectives and emerging ideas.

Moreover, seeking the reason behind things is a celebration of autonomy and intellectual freedom. It resists dogma and nurtures independent thought. By cherishing the “why,” one participates actively in one’s own life and society, striving not only to know, but to understand, and, through understanding, to effect meaningful change.