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René Descartes

Quote of René Descartes - When it is not in our...


Biography - René Descartes:

French philosopher, mathematician and scientist.
Born: 1596 - Died: 1650
Period:
17th century
Place of birth: France
France

When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to follow what is most probable.



Translation

Translation

(French)



French
Lorsqu'il n'est pas en notre pouvoir de discerner les plus vraies opinions, nous devons suivre les plus probables.




See also 

See also...






Quotes for: truth


Quotes

Quotes for: truth


To be able to discern what is true as true and what is false as false — this is the mark and character of intelligence.





Love truth, but pardon error.





Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.





The language of truth is simple.





Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority.





Truth prevails only to the extent that we successfully assert it. The victory of reason can only be the victory of rational people.











Quotes for: opinion


Quotes

Quotes for: opinion


Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.





I think my opinions are good and sound, but who does not think the same of his own?





Though men be much governed by interest; yet even interest itself, and all human affairs, are entirely governed by opinion.





Good sense is, of all things among men, the most equally distributed; for every one thinks himself so abundantly provided with it, that those even who are the most difficult to satisfy in everything else, do not usually desire a larger measure of this quality than they already possess. And in this it is not likely that all are mistaken: the conviction is rather to be held as testifying that the power of judging aright and of distinguishing truth from error, which is properly what is called good sense or reason, is by nature equal in all men; and that the diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise from some being endowed with a larger share of reason than others, but solely from this, that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects. For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it.





Article X – No one may be disturbed for his opinions, even religious ones, provided that their manifestation does not trouble the public order established by the law.





Article XI – The free communication of thoughts and of opinions is one of the most precious rights of man: any citizen thus may speak, write, print freely, except to respond to the abuse of this liberty, in the cases determined by the law.











Quotes

René Descartes also said...


To live without philosophizing is properly to have one's eyes closed and never attempt to open them.





I dare to believe that inner joy has some secret power to win the favour of fortune.





Good sense is, of all things among men, the most equally distributed; for every one thinks himself so abundantly provided with it, that those even who are the most difficult to satisfy in everything else, do not usually desire a larger measure of this quality than they already possess. And in this it is not likely that all are mistaken: the conviction is rather to be held as testifying that the power of judging aright and of distinguishing truth from error, which is properly what is called good sense or reason, is by nature equal in all men; and that the diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise from some being endowed with a larger share of reason than others, but solely from this, that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects. For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it.





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





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





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.












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