René Descartes quotes

Born
31 March 1596, La Haye en Touraine, Kingdom of France.

Died
11 February 1650.

Occupation
Philosopher, mathematician, scientist.

René Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist.

I think; therefore I am.
– René Descartes

I am indeed amazed when I consider how weak my mind is and how prone to error.
– René Descartes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Illusory joy is often worth more than genuine sorrow.
– René 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.
– René Descartes

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

Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it.
– René Descartes

Everything is self-evident.
– René Descartes

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

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

One cannot conceive anything so strange and so implausible that it has not already been said by one philosopher or another.
– René Descartes

Perfect numbers like perfect men are very rare.
– René Descartes

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

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

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

Travelling is almost like talking with those of other centuries.
– René Descartes