René Descartes

Explore 8 quotes by René Descartes

I think, therefore I am.

René Descartes

Discourse on Method

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Topic

Nature of man

Author

René Descartes

Source

Discourse on Method

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1637 1630s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Descartes, René [published anonymously]. Discours de la Méthode: Pour bien conduire sa raison, et chercher la vérité dans les sciences [Discourse on Method: To Conduct Reason Well, and Seek Truth in the Sciences]. Leiden, 1637, pt. 4.

Current Citation

Descartes, René. Discourse on the Method, translated by Ian Maclean. Oxford University Press, 2008, pt. 4.

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

René Descartes

Meditations on First Philosophy

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Topic

Questioning one's beliefs

Author

René Descartes

Source

Meditations on First Philosophy

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

1641 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Descartes, René. Meditationes de Prima Philosophia, in qua Dei existentia et animæ immortalitas demonstratur [Meditations on First Philosophy, in which the existence of God and the immortality of the soul are demonstrated]. Paris, 1641, first meditation.

Current Citation

Descarte, René. "Meditations on First Philosophy." Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy, translated by Donald A. Cress. Hackett Publishing, 1999, first meditation.

Good sense is of all things in the world the most equally distributed, for everybody thinks he is so well supplied with it, that even those most difficult to please in all other matters never desire more of it than they already possess.

René Descartes

Discourse on Method

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Topic

Common sense

Author

René Descartes

Source

Discourse on Method

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1637 1630s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Descartes, René [published anonymously]. Discours de la Méthode: Pour bien conduire sa raison, et chercher la vérité dans les sciences [Discourse on Method: To Conduct Reason Well, and Seek Truth in the Sciences]. Leiden, 1637, pt. 1.

Current Citation

Descartes, René. Discourse on the Method, translated by Ian Maclean. Oxford University Press, 2008, pt. 1.

The reading of good books is like a conversation with the best men of past centuries-in fact like a prepared conversation, in which they reveal only the best of their thoughts.

René Descartes

Discourse on Method

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Topic

Power of literature Books

Author

René Descartes

Source

Discourse on Method

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1637 1630s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Descartes, René [published anonymously]. Discours de la Méthode: Pour bien conduire sa raison, et chercher la vérité dans les sciences [Discourse on Method: To Conduct Reason Well, and Seek Truth in the Sciences]. Leiden, 1637, pt. 1.

Current Citation

Descartes, René. Discourse on the Method, translated by Ian Maclean. Oxford University Press, 2008, pt. 1.

I could not possibly exist with the nature I actually have, that is, one endowed with the idea of God, unless there really is a God; the very God, I mean, of whom I have an idea.

René Descartes

Meditations on First Philosophy

More information about this quote

Topic

God and man Existence of God God

Author

René Descartes

Source

Meditations on First Philosophy

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

1641 1640s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Descartes, René. Meditationes de Prima Philosophia, in qua Dei existentia et animæ immortalitas demonstratur [Meditations on First Philosophy, in which the existence of God and the immortality of the soul are demonstrated]. Paris, 1641, third meditation.

Current Citation

Descarte, René. "Meditations on First Philosophy." Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy, translated by Donald A. Cress. Hackett Publishing, 1999, third meditation.

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

René Descartes

Discourse on Method

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Topic

Genius

Author

René Descartes

Source

Discourse on Method

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1637 1630s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Descartes, René [published anonymously]. Discours de la Méthode: Pour bien conduire sa raison, et chercher la vérité dans les sciences [Discourse on Method: To Conduct Reason Well, and Seek Truth in the Sciences]. Leiden, 1637, pt. 1.

Current Citation

Descartes, René. Discourse on the Method, translated by Ian Maclean. Oxford University Press, 2008, pt. 1.

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

René Descartes

Discourse on Method

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Topic

New ideas

Author

René Descartes

Source

Discourse on Method

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1637 1630s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Descartes, René [published anonymously]. Discours de la Méthode: Pour bien conduire sa raison, et chercher la vérité dans les sciences [Discourse on Method: To Conduct Reason Well, and Seek Truth in the Sciences]. Leiden, 1637, pt. 2.

Current Citation

Descartes, René. Discourse on the Method, translated by Ian Maclean. Oxford University Press, 2008, pt. 2.

It is contrary to reason to say that there is a vacuum or space in which there is absolutely nothing.

René Descartes

Principles of Philosophy

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Topic

Nothingness

Author

René Descartes

Source

Principles of Philosophy

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

1644 1640s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Descartes, René. Principia Philosophica [Principles of Philosophy]. Amsterdam: Ludovicum Elzevirium, 1644, pt. 2, sect. 16.