Books Quote by Ambrose Bierce
““Cartesian,adj. Relating to Descartes, a famous philosopher, author of the celebrated dictum, Cogito ergo sum- whereby he was pleased to suppose he demonstrated the reality of human existence. The dictum might be improved, however, thus: Cogito cogito ergo sum- 'I think I think, therefore I think that I am'; as close an approach to certainty as any philosopher has yet made.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Devil’s Dictionary, 1906
Descartes’ famous claim is refined to suggest that thinking about thinking confirms existence, highlighting the limits of certainty.
In simple terms: Thinking about thinking proves existence.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions of certainty.
Themes
philosophy
certainty
existence
Mood
philosophical
critical
Type
essay
philosophical commentary
When to use this quote
- personal introspection
- academic debate
- psychological analysis
Key Concepts
cogito
self-awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this say about self‑knowledge?
- Can certainty ever be fully achieved?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on self‑reflection may ignore external evidence.
