I suppose therefore that all things I see are illusions; I…
““I suppose therefore that all things I see are illusions; I believe that nothing has ever existed of everything my lying memory tells me. I think I have no senses. I believe that body, shape, extension, motion, location are functions. What is there then that can be taken as true? Perhaps only this one thing, that nothing at all is certain ... But I cannot forget that, at other times I have been deceived in sleep by similar illusions; and, attentively considering those cases, I perceive so clearly that there exist no certain marks by which the state of waking can ever be distinguished from sleep, that I feel greatly astonished; and in amazement I almost persuade myself that I am now dreaming ... I am accustomed to sleep and in my dreams to imagine the same things that lunatics imagine when awake ... There is nothing more ancient than the truth.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker doubts all sensory knowledge, questioning reality and certainty, yet acknowledges the paradox of dreaming versus waking.
In simple terms: Skepticism about senses and reality.
Key Takeaway
Question what you accept as real.
Themes
skepticism
reality
perception
Mood
reflective
philosophical
Type
inspirational
thought‑provoking
When to use this quote
- daily decision making
- critical thinking
- scientific research
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
philosophy
epistemology
mind-body dualism
Questions to Reflect On
- What can you know for sure?
- How do you distinguish reality from illusion?
A Different Perspective
Absolute certainty may be unattainable.