--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What Descartes did was a good step. You…" description: "\"What Descartes did was a good step. You have added much several ways, and especially in taking the colours of thin plates into philosophical considerat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/isaac-newton-1226_colour_what-descartes-did-was-a-good-step-you-h_1127915.jpg" --- # What Descartes did was a good step. You have added much… ![“What Descartes did was a good step. You have added much several ways, and especially in taking the colours of thin plates into philosophical consideration. If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” quote by Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/isaac-newton-1226_colour_what-descartes-did-was-a-good-step-you-h_1127915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/isaac-newton-1226_colour_what-descartes-did-was-a-good-step-you-h_1127915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/isaac-newton-1226_colour_what-descartes-did-was-a-good-step-you-h_1127915.jpg) > “What Descartes did was a good step. You have added much several ways, and especially in taking the colours of thin plates into philosophical consideration. If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Building on past thinkers' ideas advances knowledge, acknowledging that progress stands on earlier foundations. **In simple terms:** Progress builds on previous ideas. Key Takeaway Study and extend past insights. Themes science philosophy progress Mood inspirational academic Type historical motivational When to use this quote - research - education - innovation - critical thinking Key Concepts intellectual heritage collaborative discovery Questions to Reflect On - Whose ideas inspire you most? - How can you innovate beyond existing frameworks? A Different Perspective Overreliance on past may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour/) [Consideration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consideration/) [Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/descartes/) [Descartes Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/descartes-did-3083483/) [Giants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giants/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Philosophical Consideration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical-consideration-3083485/) [Plates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plates/) [Plates Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plates-philosophical-3083484/) [Shoulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders/) [Shoulders Of Giants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders-of-giants/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“What Descartes did not know: no such isolated individual as he described can be conscious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-percy/what-descartes-did-not-know-no-such-isolated-individual-as-he/) [Walker Percy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-percy/) > [The problem with any philosophical consideration is that once you open a door in your mind, you can never close it. Once you learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/the-problem-with-any-philosophical-consideration-is-that-once-you/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/if-i-have-seen-further-than-others-it-is-by-standing-upon-the/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [I can see so far because I stood on the shoulders of giants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-can-see-so-far-because-i-stood-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/if-i-have-seen-farther-than-others-it-is-because-i-was-standing-on/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/if-i-have-seen-further-it-is-by-standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [“We are like dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants; thanks to them, we see farther than they. Busying ourselves with the treatises written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-lindberg/we-are-like-dwarfs-standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants-thanks-to-them/) [Carter Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-lindberg/) > [“A number of years ago, when I was a freshly-appointed instructor, I met, for the first time, a certain eminent historian of science. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/a-number-of-years-ago-when-i-was-a-freshly-appointed-instructor-i-met/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [With books we stand on the shoulders of giants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/with-books-we-stand-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“Sir Isaac Newton famously said that he had achieved everything by standing on the shoulders of giants—the scientific men whose findings he built upon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kean/sir-isaac-newton-famously-said-that-he-had-achieved-everything-by/) [Sam Kean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kean/) > [“If I have been able to see further, it was only because I stood on the shoulders of giants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issac-newton/if-i-have-been-able-to-see-further-it-was-only-because-i-stood-on-the/) [Issac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issac-newton/) > [Every February, we reflect on and honor the achievements, struggles, and icons that comprise Black history. As a proud, Black man running for office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-harrison/every-february-we-reflect-on-and-honor-the-achievements-struggles-and/) [Jaime Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-harrison/) > [We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-salisbury/we-are-like-dwarfs-sitting-on-the-shoulders-of-giants-we-see-more-and/) [John of Salisbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-salisbury/) > [“If I had seen further than others, it's because I stood upon the shoulders of giants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newtonnew/if-i-had-seen-further-than-others-it-s-because-i-stood-upon-the/) [Isaac NewtonNew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newtonnew/) > [Everything is derivative. Everything is a remix, and we all stand on the shoulders of giants - a great phrase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/everything-is-derivative-everything-is-a-remix-and-we-all-stand-on/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) ## More by Isaac Newton > [The same law takes place in a system, consisting of many bodies, as in one single body, with regard to their persevering in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-same-law-takes-place-in-a-system-consisting-of-many-bodies-as-in/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [I have been much amused at ye singular phenomena resulting from bringing of a needle into contact with a piece of amber or resin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-have-been-much-amused-at-ye-singular-phenomena-resulting-from/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [No great discovery was ever made without a bold guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/no-great-discovery-was-ever-made-without-a-bold-guess/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me, and wait till the first dawning opens gradually, by little and little, into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-keep-the-subject-of-my-inquiry-constantly-before-me-and-wait-till/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Philosophy is such an impertinently litigious lady that a man had as good be engaged in lawsuits as have to do with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/philosophy-is-such-an-impertinently-litigious-lady-that-a-man-had-as/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Do not Bodies act upon Light at a distance, and by their action bend its Rays; and is not this action (caeteris paribus) \[all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/do-not-bodies-act-upon-light-at-a-distance-and-by-their-action-bend/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [God in the beginning formed matter in solid, massy, hard, impenetrable, movable particles, of such sizes and figures, and with such other properties, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/god-in-the-beginning-formed-matter-in-solid-massy-hard-impenetrable/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [ I am ashamed to tell you to how many figures I carried these calculations \[of Pi\], having no other business at the time ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-am-ashamed-to-tell-you-to-how-many-figures-i-carried-these/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Hypotheses non fingo. I frame no hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/hypotheses-non-fingo-i-frame-no-hypotheses/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [The Ignis Fatuus is a vapor shining without heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-ignis-fatuus-is-a-vapor-shining-without-heat/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Blind metaphysical necessity, which is certainly the same always and every where, could produce no variety of things. All that diversity of natural things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/blind-metaphysical-necessity-which-is-certainly-the-same-always-and/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [You sometimes speak of gravity as essential and inherent to matter. Pray do not ascribe that notion to me, for the cause of gravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/you-sometimes-speak-of-gravity-as-essential-and-inherent-to-matter/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/there-are-more-sure-marks-of-authenticity-in-the-bible-than-in-any/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Therefore to the same natural effects we must, as far as possible, assign the same causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/therefore-to-the-same-natural-effects-we-must-as-far-as-possible/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [In scripture we are told of some trusting in God and others trusting in idols, and that God is our refuge, our strength, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/in-scripture-we-are-told-of-some-trusting-in-god-and-others-trusting/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) [Explore all 266 Isaac Newton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) ## More Colour quotes > [Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdus-salam/alfred-nobel-stipulated-that-no-distinction-of-race-or-colour-will/) [Abdus Salam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdus-salam/) > [I sometimes wish taste wasn't ever an issue, and the sounds of instruments or synths could be judged solely on their colour and timbre.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-greenwood/i-sometimes-wish-taste-wasn-t-ever-an-issue-and-the-sounds-of/) [Jonny Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-greenwood/) > [Half of the pleasure of painting and feeling the joy of the creative act is sharing it with others and the feeling of connection.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-genn/half-of-the-pleasure-of-painting-and-feeling-the-joy-of-the-creative/) [Sara Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-genn/) > [I am a great lover of art, in many forms: paintings, objets, textiles. I don't have the talent for painting, but I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-bisset/i-am-a-great-lover-of-art-in-many-forms-paintings-objets-textiles-i/) [Jacqueline Bisset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-bisset/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [Ah, Manet has come very, very close to it and Courbet - the marrying of form and colour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/ah-manet-has-come-very-very-close-to-it-and-courbet-the-marrying-of/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [It is not necessary to have an extravagant food budget in order to serve things with variety and tastefully cooked. It is not necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/it-is-not-necessary-to-have-an-extravagant-food-budget-in-order-to/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) > [People frequently ask me why I devote so much time to seeking out facts about man’s past…the past shows clearly that we all have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leakey/people-frequently-ask-me-why-i-devote-so-much-time-to-seeking-out/) [Louis Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leakey/) > [Walk out like someone suddenly born into colour. Do it now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/walk-out-like-someone-suddenly-born-into-colour-do-it-now/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [As soon as I turned the key I saw it hanging, the color of fire and sunset. the colour of flamboyant flowers. ‘If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/as-soon-as-i-turned-the-key-i-saw-it-hanging-the-color-of-fire-and/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [All color is no color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/all-color-is-no-color/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [To me, grey is the welcome and only possible equivalent for indifference, noncommitment, absence of opinion, absence of shape. But grey, like formlessness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/to-me-grey-is-the-welcome-and-only-possible-equivalent-for/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [William," the professor said, softly, "what now is your weapon?"…"Truth," he whispered, his voice rasping. He cleared his throat. "Truth is my sword." …"And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-davis/william-the-professor-said-softly-what-now-is-your-weapon-truth-he/) [Bryan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-davis/) > [Sound trumpets! Let our bloody colours wave! And either victory, or else a grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/sound-trumpets-let-our-bloody-colours-wave-and-either-victory-or-else/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) [Browse all 1,279 Colour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What Descartes did was a good step. You have added much several ways, and especially in taking the colours of thin plates into philosophical consideration. 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