--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Archimedes, that he might transport the…" description: "\"Archimedes, that he might transport the entire globe ... demanded only a point that was firm and immovable; so also, I shall be entitled to entertain t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ren-descartes-1376_certain_archimedes-that-he-might-transport-the-e_367043.png" --- # Archimedes, that he might transport the entire globe… ![“Archimedes, that he might transport the entire globe ... demanded only a point that was firm and immovable; so also, I shall be entitled to entertain the highest expectations, if I am fortunate enough to discover only one thing that is certain and indubitable.” quote by Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ren-descartes-1376_certain_archimedes-that-he-might-transport-the-e_367043.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ren-descartes-1376_certain_archimedes-that-he-might-transport-the-e_367043.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ren-descartes-1376_certain_archimedes-that-he-might-transport-the-e_367043.png) > “Archimedes, that he might transport the entire globe ... demanded only a point that was firm and immovable; so also, I shall be entitled to entertain the highest expectations, if I am fortunate enough to discover only one thing that is certain and indubitable.” [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that certainty can be built from a single, unshakable foundation, just as a stable point supports the whole world. **In simple terms:** Certainty rests on one firm foundation. Key Takeaway Find a single, undeniable truth to guide you. Themes philosophy certainty foundations Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - scientific research - personal decision making - legal arguments Key Concepts Cartesian doubt foundationalism epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What unshakable truth can you identify? - How does a single foundation limit broader understanding? A Different Perspective Reliance on one point may ignore complex interdependencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) ## Related quotes > [“Vera incessu patuit dea. (The goddess indubitable was revealed in her step.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/vera-incessu-patuit-dea-the-goddess-indubitable-was-revealed-in-her/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [The dog is the only living being that has found and recognizes an indubitable, tangible and definite god. He knows to whom above him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-maeterlinck/the-dog-is-the-only-living-being-that-has-found-and-recognizes-an/) [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) > [That Krishna himself was a historical figure is indeed quite indubitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-otto/that-krishna-himself-was-a-historical-figure-is-indeed-quite/) [Rudolf Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-otto/) > [When you make a film like this, you must have the highest expectations of your audience. Having worked in situations where we have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atom-egoyan/when-you-make-a-film-like-this-you-must-have-the-highest-expectations/) [Atom Egoyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atom-egoyan/) > [“life's greatest disappointments come from the highest expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-papas/life-s-greatest-disappointments-come-from-the-highest-expectations/) [Anita Papas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-papas/) > [United are a club with the highest expectations. Always have been. Always will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/united-are-a-club-with-the-highest-expectations-always-have-been/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [“Success never quite meets your highest expectations, and failure is never as devastating as you feared. 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Voelker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-voelker/) > [By 2020, cargo loops should be working. By 2022, we should have people transport working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shervin-pishevar/by-2020-cargo-loops-should-be-working-by-2022-we-should-have-people/) [Shervin Pishevar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shervin-pishevar/) > [Politicians who lack the vision to lead the community on big issues like public transport often hide their inaction by blaming other levels of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/politicians-who-lack-the-vision-to-lead-the-community-on-big-issues/) [Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/) > [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More by Rene Descartes > [“My third maxim was to endeavour always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and change my desires rather than the order of the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/my-third-maxim-was-to-endeavour-always-to-conquer-myself-rather-than/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the self-same well from which your laughter rises was often-times filled with your tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/your-joy-is-your-sorrow-unmasked-and-the-self-same-well-from-which/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [So blind is the curiosity by which mortals are possessed, that they often conduct their minds along unexplored routes, having no reason to hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/so-blind-is-the-curiosity-by-which-mortals-are-possessed-that-they/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it. The greatest minds, as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/for-to-be-possessed-of-a-vigorous-mind-is-not-enough-the-prime/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“It is useful to know something of the manners of different nations, that we may be enabled to form a more correct judgment regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/it-is-useful-to-know-something-of-the-manners-of-different-nations/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [A state is better governed which has few laws, and those laws strictly observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/a-state-is-better-governed-which-has-few-laws-and-those-laws-strictly/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [ \[About Pierre de Fermat\] It cannot be denied that he has had many exceptional ideas, and that he is a highly intelligent man. For… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/about-pierre-de-fermat-it-cannot-be-denied-that-he-has-had-many/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Science is practical philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/science-is-practical-philosophy/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [ “And what more am I? I look for aid to the imagination. \[But how mistakenly!\] I am not that assemblage of limbs we call… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/and-what-more-am-i-i-look-for-aid-to-the-imagination-but-how/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“And, in fine, of false sciences I thought I knew the worth sufficiently to escape being deceived by the professions of an alchemist, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/and-in-fine-of-false-sciences-i-thought-i-knew-the-worth-sufficiently/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/nothing-is-more-fairly-distributed-than-common-sense-no-one-thinks-he/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [If I go for the alternative which is false, then obviously I shall be in error; if I take the other side, then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/if-i-go-for-the-alternative-which-is-false-then-obviously-i-shall-be/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Everything is self-evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/everything-is-self-evident/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Neither the true nor the false roots are always real; sometimes they are imaginary; that is, while we can always imagine as many roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/neither-the-true-nor-the-false-roots-are-always-real-sometimes-they/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [It is only intelligence that is divided equally between people because everybody thinks he/she is enough wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/it-is-only-intelligence-that-is-divided-equally-between-people/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) [Explore all 232 Rene Descartes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. 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I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) T. H. 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