this post reminded me of a brilliant (in my opinion) quote from Moby Dick:

"As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts."

For me, this sums up mankind´s infinite quest for knowledge and the further pursuit of the unknown.

Carl Sagan also mentions this idea in his book "pale blue dot" - definitely worth a read.