Rene Descartes Quotes

Author Image

Rene Descartes

Profession : Mathematician

Birth : March 31, 1596

The two operations of our understanding, intuition and deduction, on which alone we have said we must rely in the acquisition of knowledge.

Rene Descartes

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

Rene Descartes

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

Rene Descartes

I hope that posterity will judge me kindly, not only as to the things which I have explained, but also to those which I have intentionally omitted so as to leave to others the pleasure of discovery.

Rene Descartes

The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues.

Rene Descartes

Common sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world, for each one thinks he is so well-endowed with it that even those who are hardest to satisfy in all other matters are not in the habit of desiring more of it than they already have.

Rene Descartes

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

Rene Descartes

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.

Rene Descartes

The senses deceive from time to time, and it is prudent never to trust wholly those who have deceived us even once.

Rene Descartes

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

Rene Descartes

Illusory joy is often worth more than genuine sorrow.

Rene Descartes

An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?

Rene Descartes

I think; therefore I am.

Rene Descartes

Each problem that I solved became a rule, which served afterwards to solve other problems.

Rene Descartes

There is nothing so strange and so unbelievable that it has not been said by one philosopher or another.

Rene Descartes

In order to improve the mind, we ought less to learn, than to contemplate.

Rene Descartes

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

Rene Descartes

Perfect numbers like perfect men are very rare.

Rene Descartes

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

Rene Descartes

I am accustomed to sleep and in my dreams to imagine the same things that lunatics imagine when awake.

Rene Descartes