Descartes Quote by Oliver Burkeman
““We should start using the mind as a tool, he argues, instead of letting the mind use us, which is the normal state of affairs. When Descartes said ‘I think, therefore I am,’ he had not discovered ‘the most fundamental truth’, Tolle insists; instead, he had given expression to ‘the most basic error’.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Antidote to Suffering, Oliver Burkeman, 2023
We must actively use our mind as a tool rather than being driven by it, recognizing that thinking is a means, not the ultimate truth.
In simple terms: Use mind as tool, not master.
Key Takeaway
Practice mindful agency.
Themes
mindfulness
agency
philosophy
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal development
- stress reduction
- decision making
Key Concepts
cognitive control
self‑awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you train your mind to serve you?
- What habits keep you passive?
A Different Perspective
Mind can still be hijacked by habits.
![“Descartes gave sight to the blind. These saw the errors of antiquity and of the sciences. The path he struck out is since become boundless […] In fathoming this abyss no bottom has been found. We are now to examine what discoveries Sir Isaac Newton has made in it.” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/752/voltaire-173_abyss_descartes-gave-sight-to-the-blind-these_224597.jpg)
