Very few beings really seek knowledge in this world. Mortal or immortal, few really ask. On the contrary, they try to wring from the unknown the answers they have already shaped in their own minds -- justifications, confirmations, forms of consolation without which they can't go on. To really ask is to open the door to the whirlwind. The answer may annihilate the question and the questioner.
The quote from Anne Rice's "The Vampire Lestat" emphasizes that genuine seekers of knowledge are rare. Individuals often approach the unknown with preconceived ideas, seeking validation rather than enlightenment. This tendency leads many to cling to their established beliefs rather than confront the complexities of truth.
Rice suggests that true inquiry entails vulnerability, as it opens one to potentially unsettling revelations. The very act of questioning can dismantle both the query and the asker, challenging their foundational beliefs and making them confront the chaos of uncertainty. This perspective highlights the transformative power of authentic questioning.