Genuine curiosity is often alive in us while growing up, although adults can certainly remain curious too. The problem is that as we grow older, curiosity often becomes narrowed by the criteria of success imposed by society. Instead of asking, "What do I genuinely want to understand?", we start asking, "What do I need to know to succeed and stay ahead of others?" Society encourages constant comparison and competition, creating a psychological sense of rush even while learning. As a result, a person may accumulate a large amount of information but develop only vague understanding, because learning becomes an exercise in quickly grasping 'one-liners' rather than patiently investigating a subject. When the social demand is to "know everything," the pursuit of knowledge itself can become another identity to maintain.