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Doubt Quote by René Descartes

“The first was never to accept anything for true which I did not clearly know to be such; that is to say, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to comprise nothing more in my judgment than what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of doubt.” quote by René Descartes
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““The first was never to accept anything for true which I did not clearly know to be such; that is to say, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to comprise nothing more in my judgment than what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of doubt.””

René Descartes

About This Quote

Source Philosophy: Discourse on the Method, 1637

Advocates cautious judgment, accepting only clearly distinct ideas and avoiding premature conclusions.

In simple terms: Judge only what is clearly known.

Key Takeaway

Seek clarity before belief.

Themes

critical thinking philosophy skepticism

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • scientific research
  • legal decisions
  • personal choices
  • education

Key Concepts

Cartesian doubt methodological rigor

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you verify clarity?
  • When is intuition valuable?
A Different Perspective

May overlook intuitive insights or emotional truths.

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