Rene Descartes Quotes

We do not describe the world we see, we see the world we can describe.

Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it.

De omnibus dubitandum

Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it.

Conquer yourself rather than the world.

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

The chief cause of human errors is to be found in the prejudices picked up in childhood.

Doubt is the origin of wisdom

The only thing we have power over in the universe is our own thoughts.

How can you be certain that your whole life is not a dream?

Omnia apud me mathematica fiunt.

The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues.

The only thing that I know, is that I know nothing

I know that I exist; the question is, What is this 'I' that 'I' know.

It is possible that I am dreaming right now and that all of my perceptions are false.

Mathematics is a more powerful instrument of knowledge than any other that has been bequeathed to us by human agency.

I think; therefore I am.

For I found myself embarrassed with so many doubts and errors that it seemed to me that the effort to instruct myself had no effect other than th eincreasing discovery of my own ignorance

The only secure knowledge is that I exist.

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

A state is better governed which has few laws, and those laws strictly observed.

Truths are more likely to be discovered by one man than by a nation

I was convinced that our beliefs are based much more on custom and example than on any certain knowledge.

He who hid well, lived well.

Perfect numbers like perfect men are very rare.

Reason is nothing without imagination.

God alone is the author of all the motions in the world.

Wonder is the first of all the passions.

It is best not to go on for great quest for truth , it will only make you miserable

Illusory joy is often worth more than genuine sorrow.

But possibly I am something more than I suppose myself to be.

...it is certain that I am really distinct from my body, and can exist without it.

When I consider this carefully, I find not a single property which with certainty separates the waking state from the dream. How can you be certain that your whole life is not a dream?

All is to be doubted.

The senses deceive from time to time, and it is prudent never to trust wholly those who have deceived us even once.

Intuitive knowledge is an illumination of the soul, whereby it beholds in the light of God those things which it pleases Him to reveal to us by a direct impression of divine clearness.

Nothing comes out of nothing.

We never understand a thing so well,and make it our own, as when we have discovered it for ourselves.

It's the familiar love-hate syndrome of seduction: "I don't really care what it is I say, I care only that you like it."

He lives well who is well hidden.

If ... it is not in my power to arrive at the knowledge of any truth, I may at least do what is in my power, namely, suspend judgement.

The two operations of our understanding, intuition and deduction, on which alone we have said we must rely in the acquisition of knowledge.

The principal effect of the passions is that they incite and persuade the mind to will the events for which they prepared the body.

And as it is the most generous souls who have most gratitude, it is those who have most pride, and who are most base and infirm, who most allow themselves to be carried away by anger and hatred.

Variant: When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to follow what is most probable.

Science is practical philosophy.

I can doubt everything, except one thing, and that is the very fact that I doubt. Simply put - I think, therefore I am

Everything is self-evident.

Desire awakens only to things that are thought possible.

If I simply refrain from making a judgment in cases where I do not perceive the truth with sufficient clarity and distinctness, then it is clear that I am behaving correctly and avoiding error.