“ When I turn my mind's eye upon myself, I understand that I am a thing which is incomplete and dependent on another and which aspires without limit to ever greater and better things... Rene Descartes
“ 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… Rene Descartes
“ [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 o… Rene Descartes
“ ...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 r… Rene Descartes
“ So blind is the curiosity by which mortals are possessed, that they often conduct their minds along unexplored routes, having no reason to hope for success, but merely being willing to risk the experi… Rene Descartes
“ 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 th… Rene Descartes
“ 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… Rene Descartes
“ Gratitude is a species of love, excited in us by some action of the person for whom we have it, and by which we believe that he has done some good to us, or at least that he has had the intention of d… Rene Descartes
“ 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… Rene Descartes
“ Thus the perception of the infinite is somehow prior in me to the perception of the finite, that is, my perception of God is prior to my perception of myself. For how would I understand that I doubt a… Rene Descartes
“ 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 Rene Descartes
“ The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries. Rene Descartes
“ To live without philosophizing is in truth the same as keeping the eyes closed without attempting to open them. Rene Descartes
“ 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. Rene Descartes
“ You just keep pushing. You just keep pushing. I made every mistake that could be made. But I just kept pushing. Rene Descartes
“ It is only prudent never to place complete confidence in that by which we have even once been deceived. Rene Descartes
