Curious learning not only makes unpleasant things less unpleasant but also makes pleasant things more pleasant.

Russell is praising an attitude of inquisitiveness—learning pursued from curiosity rather than mere utility. Such “curious learning” can reframe discomfort: when we understand causes, mechanisms, or wider patterns, pain and inconvenience feel less arbitrary and therefore more bearable. At the same time, knowledge can intensify enjoyment by adding layers of appreciation—recognizing structure in music, history in a landscape, or ideas behind a work of art. The remark fits Russell’s broader humanistic defense of education as a source of intellectual pleasure and emotional resilience, not simply vocational training.