Quotes by "René Descartes"

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

...the greater objective (representative) perfection there is in our idea of a thing, the greater also must be the perfection of its cause.

And in this it is not likely that all are mistaken the conviction is rather to be held as testifying that the power of judging aright and of distinguishing truth from error, which is properly what is called good sense or reason, is by nature equal in all men; and that the diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise from some being endowed with a larger share of reason than others, but solely from this, that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects. For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it. The greatest minds, as they are capable of the highest excellences, are open likewise to the greatest aberrations; and those who travel very slowly may yet make far greater progress, provided they keep always to the straight road, than those who, while they run, forsake it.

To live without philosophizing is in truth the same as keeping the eyes closed without attempting to open them.

If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.

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

You just keep pushing. You just keep pushing. I made every mistake that could be made. But I just kept pushing.

The dreams we imagine when we are asleep should not in any way make us doubt the truth of the thoughts we have when we are awake.

Dubium sapientiae initium (Doubt is the origin of wisdom).

Even if all knowledge could be found in books, where it is mixed in with so many useless things and confusingly heaped in such large volumes, it would take longer to read those books than we have to live in this life and more effort to select the useful things than to find them oneself

The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries.

La lecture de tous les bons livres est comme une conversation avec les plus honnêtes gens des siècles passés.