René Descartes Quotes

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.

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.

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

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

There is nothing more ancient than the truth.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

that the grace of fable stirs the mind"...and..."that the perusal of excellent books is, as it were, to interview with the noblest men of past ages

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.

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.

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

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