Rene Descartes
Rene Descartes
René Descarteswas a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. Dubbed the father of modern western philosophy, much of subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which are studied closely to this day. He spent about 20 years of his life in the Dutch Republic...
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth31 March 1596
CityIndre-et-Loire, France
judging desire use
I experienced in myself a certain capacity for judging which I have doubtless received from God, like all the other things that I possess; and as He could not desire to deceive me, it is clear that He has not given me a faculty that will lead me to err if I use it aright.
doubt aries thrive
Doubt is the origin of wisdom
light intuition mind
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.
lasts opinion reservations
At last I will devote myself sincerely and without reservation to the general demolition of my opinions.
believe perfect joy
Just as we believe by faith that the greatest happiness of the next life consists simply in the contemplation of this divine majesty, likewise we experience that we derive the greatest joy of which we are capable in this life from the same contemplation, even though it is much less perfect.
world stage theater
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.
judgement may judgment
If ... it is not in my power to arrive at the knowledge of any truth, I may at least do what is in my power, namely, suspend judgement ...
life men use
Every man is indeed bound to do what he can to promote the good of others, and a man who is of no use to anyone is strictly worthless.
philosophy thinking may
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.
thinking doubt facts
I can doubt everything, except one thing, and that is the very fact that I doubt. Simply put - I think, therefore I am
thinking common-sense world
Common sense is the best distributed thing in the world, for we all think we possess a good share of it.
illumination light soul
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.
luxury wells
He lives well who is well hidden.
men hands purpose
... regard this body as a machine which, having been made by the hand of God, is incomparably better ordered than any machine that can be devised by man, and contains in itself movements more wonderful than those in any machine. ... it is for all practical purposes impossible for a machine to have enough organs to make it act in all the contingencies of life in the way in which our reason makes us act.