10 Amazing Quotes by Rene Descartes. He Is One Of My Favorite Philosophers Of All Time. :)

René Descartes (31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650), also known as Renatus Cartesius (Latinized form), was a French philosopher, mathematician, physicist, and writer who spent most of his adult life in the Dutch Republic. He has been dubbed the "Father of Modern Philosophy", and much of subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which continue to be studied closely to this day. In particular, his Meditations on First Philosophy [I still have this teeny book on my bookshelf from my early college days in my early 20's.  It's quite profound. His experience changed me, enlightened me. I'm still in awe by his body of work and who he was as a person. (emphasis mine)] continues to be a standard text at most university philosophy departments. Descartes' influence in mathematics is also apparent, the Cartesian coordinate system allowing geometric shapes to be expressed in algebraic equations being named for him. He is credited as the father of analytical geometry. Descartes was also one of the key figures in the Scientific Revolution. In his theology, he insists on the absolute freedom of God’s act of creation. [source: wikipedia]

10 Amazing Quotes by Rene Descartes

1. A state is better governed which has few laws, and those laws strictly observed.
   
   
2. Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it.
   
   
3. In order to improve the mind, we ought less to learn, than to contemplate.
   
   
4. 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.
   
   
5. The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt.
   
   
6. It is only prudent never to place complete confidence in that by which we have even once been deceived.
   
   
7. The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.
   
   
8. Travelling is almost like talking with those of other centuries.
   
   
9. Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it.
   
   
10. You just keep pushing. You just keep pushing. I made every mistake that could be made. But I just kept pushing.
    

BONUS

I doubt therefore I think; I think therefore I am.
(transalated to latin: Dubito ergo cogito; cogito ergo sum)

BONUS BONUS

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