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René Descartes Quotes | Quotes said by René Descartes

  • René Descartes Quote #1

    [...] 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.


  • René Descartes Quote #2

    [About Pierre de Fermat] It cannot be denied that he has had many exceptional ideas, and that he is a highly intelligent man. For my part, however, I have always been taught to take a broad overview of things, in order to be able to deduce from them general rules, which might be applicable elsewhere.

  • René Descartes Quote #3

    although we very clearly see the sun, we ought not therefore to determine that it is only of the size which our sense of sight presents; and we may very distinctly imagine the head of a lion joined to the body of a goat, without being therefore shut up to the conclusion that a chimaera exists; for it is not a dictate of reason that what we thus see or imagine is in reality existent; but it plainly tells us that all our ideas or notions contain in them some truth.

  • René Descartes Quote #4

    And thus, the actions of life often not allowing any delay, it is a truth very certain that, when it is not in our power to determine the most true opinions we ought to follow the most probable.

  • René Descartes Quote #5

    And, in fine, of false sciences I thought I knew the worth sufficiently to escape being deceived by the professions of an alchemist, the predictions of an astrologer, the impostures of a magician, or by the artifices and boasting of any of those who profess to know things of which they are ignorant.

  • René Descartes Quote #6

    Booty Butt, Booty Butt, Booty Butt Cheeks

  • René Descartes Quote #7

    But in my opinion, all things in nature occur mathematically.

  • René Descartes Quote #8

    c'est une vérité très certaine que, lorsqu'il n'est pas en notre pouvoir de discerner les plus vraies opinions, nous devons suivre les plus probables
    partie 3, para 3)

  • René Descartes Quote #9

    Cogito ergo sum. (I think, therefore I am.)

  • René Descartes Quote #10

    Common sense is the best distributed commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well supplied with it.

  • René Descartes Quote #11

    Common sense is the most widely shared commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well supplied with it.

  • René Descartes Quote #12

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

  • René Descartes Quote #13

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

  • René Descartes Quote #14

    entre plusieurs opinions également reçues, je ne choisissais que les plus modérées, tant à cause que ce sont toujours les plus commodes pour la pratique, et vraisemblablement les meilleures, tous excès ayant coutume d'être mauvais, comme aussi afin de me détourner moins du vrai chemin, en cas que je faillisse, que si, ayant choisi l'un des extrêmes, c'eût été l'autre qu'il fallu suivre. (3e partie, para 2)

  • René Descartes Quote #15

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

  • René Descartes Quote #16

    For, occupied incessantly with the consideration of the limits prescribed to their power by nature, they [philosophers of former times] became so entirely convinced that nothing was at their disposal except their own thoughts, that this conviction was of itself sufficient to prevent their entertaining any desire of other objects; and over their thoughts they acquired a sway so absolute, that they had some ground on this account for esteeming themselves more rich and more powerful, more free and more happy, than other men who, whatever be the favors heaped on them by nature and fortune, if destitute of this philosophy, can never command the realization of all their desires.

  • René Descartes Quote #17

    I desire to live in peace and to continue the life I have begun under the motto 'to live well you must live unseen

  • René Descartes Quote #18

    I revered our theology, and aspired as much as any one to reach heaven: but being given assuredly to understand that the way is not less open to the most ignorant than to the most learned, and that the revealed truths which lead to heaven are above our comprehension, I did not presume to subject them to the impotency of my reason; and I thought that in order competently to undertake their examination, there was need of some special help from heaven, and of being more than man.

  • René Descartes Quote #19

    I suppose therefore that all things I see are illusions; I believe that nothing has ever existed of everything my lying memory tells me. I think I have no senses. I believe that body, shape, extension, motion, location are functions. What is there then that can be taken as true? Perhaps only this one thing, that nothing at all is certain.

  • René Descartes Quote #20

    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.

  • René Descartes Quote #21

    Il est bon de savoir quelque chose des moeurs de divers peuples, afin de juger des notres plus sainement et que nous ne pensions pas que tout ce qui est contre nos modes soit ridicule et contre raison, ainsi qu'ont coutume de faire ceux qui n'ont rien vu; mais lorsqu'on emploie trop de temps à voyager on devient enfin étranger en son pays; et lorsqu'on est trop curieux des choses qui se pratiquaient aux siècles passés, on demeure ordinairement fort ignorant de celles qui se pratiquent en celui-ci.

  • René Descartes Quote #22

    In order to seek truth, it is necessary once in the course of our life to doubt, as far as possible, of all things.

  • René Descartes Quote #23

    It cannot be denied that he has had many exceptional ideas, and that he is a highly intelligent man. For my part, however, I have always been taught to take a broad overview of things, in order to be able to deduce from them general rules, which might be applicable elsewhere.

  • René Descartes Quote #24

    It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.

  • René Descartes Quote #25

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

  • René Descartes Quote #26

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

  • René Descartes Quote #27

    Let whoever can do so deceive me, he will never bring it about that I am nothing, so long as I continue to think I am something.

  • René Descartes Quote #28

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

  • René Descartes Quote #29

    philosophes qui ont pu autrefois se soustraire de l'empire de la fortune, et, malgré les douleurs et la pauvreté, disputer de la félicité avec leurs dieux. Car s'occupant sans cesse à considérer les bornes qui leur étaient prescrites par la nature, ils se persuadaient si parfaitement que rien n'était en leur pouvoir que leurs pensées, que cela seul était suffisant pour les empêcher d'avoir aucune affection pour d'autres choses; et ils disposaient d'elles si absolument qu'ils avaient en cela quelque raison de s'estimer plus riches, et plus puissants, et plus libres, et plus heureux qu'aucun des autres hommes, qui, n'ayant point cette philosophie, tant favorisés de la nature et de la fortune qu'ils puissent être, ne disposent jamais ainsi de tout ce qu'ils veulent. (partie 3, para 4)

  • René Descartes Quote #30

    Reading good books is like engaging in conversation with the most cultivated minds of past centuries who had composed them, or rather, taking part in a well-conducted dialogue in which such minds reveal to us only the best of their thoughts.

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