Rene Descartes Quotes - Page 3

Science is practical philosophy.

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

Situations in life often permit no delay; and when we cannot determine the course which is certainly best, we must follow the one which is probably the best. This frame of mind freed me also from the repentance and remorse commonly felt by those vacillating individuals who are always seeking as worthwhile things which they later judge to be bad.

He lives well who is well hidden.

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

Intuition is the undoubting conception of a pure and attentive mind, which arises from the light of reason alone, and is more certain than deduction.

Illusory joy is often worth more than genuine sorrow.

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.

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

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.

Everything is self-evident.

I have concluded the evident existence of God, and that my existence depends entirely on God in all the moments of my life, that I do not think that the human spirit may know anything with greater evidence and certitude.

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.

At last I will devote myself sincerely and without reservation to the general demolition of my opinions.

In God there is an infinitude of things which I cannot comprehend, nor possibly even reach in any way by thought; for it is the nature of the infinite that my nature, which is finite and limited, should not comprehend it.

Before examining this more carefully and investigating its consequences, I want to dwell for a moment in the contemplation of God, to ponder His attributes in me, to see, admire, and adore the beauty of His boundless light, insofar as my clouded insight allows. Believing that the supreme happiness of the other life consists wholly of the contemplation of divine greatness, I now find that through less perfect contemplation of the same sort I can gain the greatest joy available in this life.

Give me extension and motion and I will construct the universe.

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

Few look for truth; many prowl about for a reputation of profundity by arrogantly challenging whichever arguments are the best.

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

With me, everything turns into mathematics.

The reading of all good books is indeed like a conversation with the noblest men of past centuries who were the authors of them, nay a carefully studied conversation, in which they reveal to us none but the best of their thoughts.

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

The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt.

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."