Cause Quote by René Descartes
““...the greater objective (representative) perfection there is in our idea of a thing, the greater also must be the perfection of its cause.””
About This Quote
Source Treat: Discourse on the Method, 1637
The more perfect our concept of something, the more perfect its cause must be.
In simple terms: Better ideas imply better origins.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper causes behind ideas.
Themes
philosophy
metaphysics
causality
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- critical thinking
- design analysis
Key Concepts
Cartesian dualism
perfection theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What underlying causes shape your beliefs?
- Can perfection be measured?
A Different Perspective
Perfection of ideas may be subjective.
![“[About Pierre de Fermat] It cannot be denied that he has had many exceptional ideas, and that he is a highly intelligent man. For my part, however, I have always been taught to take a broad overview of things, in order to be able to deduce from them general rules, which might be applicable…” quote by Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/588/ren-descartes-1376_able_about-pierre-de-fermat-it-cannot-be-deni_89929.jpg)
![“And what more am I? I look for aid to the imagination. [But how mistakenly!] I am not that assemblage of limbs we call the human body; I am not a subtle penetrating air distributed throughout all these members; I am not a wind, a fire, a vapor, a breath or anything at all that I can image. I am…” quote by René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/207/ren-descartes-1376_human-body_and-what-more-am-i-i-look-for-aid-to-the_115493.jpg)
