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Curiosity killed the cat expression

English Language & Usage Asked by user293598 on December 25, 2020

I remember hearing once a three-part expression but have not been able to remember or find the third part in years.

  1. Curiosity killed the cat.
  2. Satisfaction brought him back.

What is the third?

5 Answers

I don't believe there is a third part. A quick Google search comes up with the oldest source of the saying being a 1598 play by Ben Jonson called Every Man in His Humour:

Helter skelter, hang sorrow, care'll kill a Cat, up-tails all, and a Louse for the Hangman.

A variant is in Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (Brewer, 1898):

Care killed the Cat. It is said that a cat has nine lives, but care would wear them all out.

According to Wikipedia (which I'm always skeptical of, but in this case provides external references for its claim):

On 10 August 1905, The Galveston Daily News newspaper (page 6) printed the following
quotation without the word satisfaction:

    Curiosity killed a cat; but it came back.

On 23 December 1912, the earliest known printed reference to this variation of the
proverb is found in The Titusville Herald newspaper (page 6):

    You will find greater values here. We are told:
    "Curiosity killed the cat,
    But satisfaction brought it back."
    It is the same story with groceries.
    "Prices will sell Groceries, but it is always final-
    ity that brings the buyer back."

By 15 May 1924, the proverb appears to have been well known, as this quote from
The Jewell Record newspaper (page 3) indicates:

    Come May 19th and 21st and see this puzzle completed. As the saying goes
    "Curiosity killed a cat, satisfaction brought it back."

Thanks to a comment, "Curiosity killed a cat—satisfaction brought it back again" appeared in Veal Breaded: A Comedy in One Act (1913).

If there is a variation of the saying that includes a third line, it's not one I know of or could quickly find.

Answered by Jason Bassford on December 25, 2020

Person 1: Curiosity killed the cat.
Person 2: Satisfaction brought him back.
Person 1: To be hung as he rightfully deserved.

Answered by user356457 on December 25, 2020

I remember “ information made him fat”

Answered by Angie Bowen on December 25, 2020

From Lifehack.org

Curiosity Killed the Cat and Information Made Him Fat. 8 Reasons Why Scientists Disagree With This Cliché.

Answered by Greybeard on December 25, 2020

I was just going to ask a related question, but I found this rich conversation here!

An Australian native once told me

Curiosity killed the cat and information brought it back!

Now, as I had only heard about the first part (Curiosity killed the cat) until then, in my head I was thinking, is he making this up or is it an established continuation of the proverb? I guess it is a combination of parts 2 and 3 that were referred to here.

One thing is sure, that Australian did make me smile. And it is true, it is perfectly ok to play with proverbs to fit our purpose!

Answered by fev on December 25, 2020

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