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Rene Descartes Quotes

Philosopher

Rene Descartes, a French philosopher, mathematician, scientist, and logician, is one of the most important thinkers in the history of Western philosophy. His philosophical ideas have had a profound impact on subsequent generations, particularly for his famous proposition 'Cogito, ergo sum'. Born on March 31, 1596, Descartes died on February 11, 1650.

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Famous Rene Descartes Quotes

“So far, I have been a spectator in this theater which is the world, but I am now about to mount the stage, and I come forward masked.”

World Has Beens Stage Theater Spectators

Author:Rene Descartes

“But I cannot forget that, at other times I have been deceived in sleep by similar illusions; and, attentively considering those cases, I perceive so clearly that there exist no certain marks by which the state of waking can ever be distinguished from sleep, that I feel greatly astonished; and in amazement I almost persuade myself that I am now dreaming.”

Feels Has Beens States Dream Certain Sleep Forget Cases Illusion Mark Perceive Waking Considering Deceived Distinguished Amazement

Book:The Rationalists: Descartes: Discourse on Method & Meditations; Spinoza: Ethics; Leibniz: Monadolo gy & Discourse on Metaphysics

Source: The Rationalists: Descartes: Discourse on Method & Meditations; Spinoza: Ethics; Leibniz: Monadolo gy & Discourse on Metaphysics

“This result could have been achieved either by his [God] endowing my intellect with a clear and distinct perception of everything about which I would ever deliberate, or simply by impressing the following rule so firmly upon my memory that I could never forget it: I should never judge anything that I do not clearly and distinctly understand.”

Should Has Beens Memories Forget Results Clear Judging Perception Following Intellect Never Forget Impress Deliberate Could Have Been Forget It Following Rules

Book:Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy

Source: Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy

“In the matter of a difficult question it is more likely that the truth should have been discovered by the few than by the many.”

Should Has Beens Matter Truth Difficult Should Have Should Have Been Difficult Questions

Author:Rene Descartes

“Even the mind depends so much on temperament and the disposition of one's bodily organs that, if it is possible to find a way to make people generally more wise and more skilful than they have been in the past, I believe that we should look for it in medicine. It is true that medicine as it is currently practiced contains little of much use.”

People Ifs Way Should Mind Believe Looks Littles Has Beens Use Past Science I Believe Wise Depends Medicine Organs Disposition Temperament

Author:Rene Descartes

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

Humans Has Beens Powerful Knowledge Logic Mathematics Instruments Math Mathematical Agency Mathematician Math Education

Book:RULES FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE MIND DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD MEDITATIONS ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE MEDITATIONS AND REPLIES THE GEOMETRY

Source: RULES FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE MIND DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD MEDITATIONS ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE MEDITATIONS AND REPLIES THE GEOMETRY

“In philosophy, when we make use of false principles, we depart the farther from the knowledge of truth and wisdom exactly in proportion to the care with which we cultivate them, and apply ourselves to the deduction of diverse consequences from them, thinking that we are philosophizing well, while we are only departing the farther from the truth; from which it must be inferred that they who have learned the least of all that has been hitherto distinguished by the name of philosophy are the most fitted for the apprehension of truth.”

Thinking Wells Has Beens Philosophy Use Care Names Principles Consequence Proportion Diverse Distinguished Apprehension Deductions Aries Departing

Author:Rene Descartes

“Be that as it may, there is fixed in my mind a certain opinion of long standing, namely that there exists a God who is able to do anything and by whom I, such as I am, have been created. How do I know that he did not bring it about that there is no earth at all, no heavens, no extended thing, no shape, no size, no place, and yet bringing it about that all these things appear to me to exist precisely as they do now?”

Knows Mind May Long Has Beens Able Earth Certain Heaven Opinion Shapes Standing Size Fixed

Author:Rene Descartes

“By 'God', I understand, a substance which is infinite, independent, supremely intelligent, supremely powerful, and which created both myself and everything else [...] that exists. All these attributes are such that, the more carefully I concentrate on them, the less possible it seems that they could have originated from me alone. So, from what has been said it must be concluded that God necessarily exists.”

Has Beens Said Seems Powerful Intelligent Infinite Independent Substance Attributes Me Alone

Author:Rene Descartes

“The rainbow is such a remarkable phenomenon of nature, and its cause has been so meticulously sought after by inquiring minds throughout the ages, that I could not choose a more appropriate subject for demonstrating how, with the method I am using, we can arrive at knowledge not possessed at all by those whose writings are available to us.”

Writing Mind Has Beens Age Causes Subjects Discovery Method Available Appropriate Remarkable Phenomenon Possessed Rainbow Epiphany Demonstrating Inquiring Inquiring Minds

Author:Rene Descartes