The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt.

Quote by Rene Descartes

Topics: Rene Descartes Quotes

Perfect numbers like perfect men are very rare.

Perfect numbers like perfect men are very rare.

When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to...

When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to...

Good sense is of all things in the world the most equally distributed, for everybody...

Good sense is of all things in the world the most equally distributed, for everybody...

Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the...

Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the...

In order to improve the mind, we ought less to learn, than to contemplate.

In order to improve the mind, we ought less to learn, than to contemplate.

There is nothing so strange and so unbelievable that it has not been said by...

There is nothing so strange and so unbelievable that it has not been said by...

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of...

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of...

Illusory joy is often worth more than genuine sorrow.

Illusory joy is often worth more than genuine sorrow.

The principal effect of the passions is that they incite and persuade the mind to...

The principal effect of the passions is that they incite and persuade the mind to...

Common sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world, for each one thinks...

Common sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world, for each one thinks...

Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power.

Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power.

Common sense is the best distributed thing in the world, for everyone thinks he is...

Common sense is the best distributed thing in the world, for everyone thinks he is...

The greatest minds, as they are capable of the highest excellencies, are open likewise to...

The greatest minds, as they are capable of the highest excellencies, are open likewise to...

Dubito ergo cogito; cogito ergo sum. (I doubt, therefore I think; I think therefore I...

Dubito ergo cogito; cogito ergo sum. (I doubt, therefore I think; I think therefore I...

It is only prudent never to place complete confidence in that by which we have...

It is only prudent never to place complete confidence in that by which we have...

The two operations of our understanding, intuition and deduction, on which alone we have said...

The two operations of our understanding, intuition and deduction, on which alone we have said...

Of all things, good sense is the most fairly distributed: everyone thinks he is so...

Of all things, good sense is the most fairly distributed: everyone thinks he is so...

One cannot conceive anything so strange and so implausible that it has not already been...

One cannot conceive anything so strange and so implausible that it has not already been...

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you...

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you...

The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire...

The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire...