--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My third maxim was to endeavor always to…" description: "\"“My third maxim was to endeavor always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and change my desires rather than the order of the world, and in general,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/ren-descartes-1376_success_my-third-maxim-was-to-endeavor-always-to_744529.png" --- # My third maxim was to endeavor always to conquer myself… ![“My third maxim was to endeavor always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and change my desires rather than the order of the world, and in general, accustom myself to the persuasion that, except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power; so that when we have done our best in…” quote by René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/ren-descartes-1376_success_my-third-maxim-was-to-endeavor-always-to_744529.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/ren-descartes-1376_success_my-third-maxim-was-to-endeavor-always-to_744529.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/ren-descartes-1376_success_my-third-maxim-was-to-endeavor-always-to_744529.png) > ““My third maxim was to endeavor always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and change my desires rather than the order of the world, and in general, accustom myself to the persuasion that, except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power; so that when we have done our best in things external to us, all wherein we fail of success is to be held, as regards us, absolutely impossible: and this single principle seemed to me sufficient to prevent me from desiring for the future anything which I could not obtain, and thus render me contented”” [René 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. Control over one's mind and desires is more reliable than trying to control external events; true freedom comes from internal mastery. **In simple terms:** Master your thoughts, not fate. Key Takeaway Focus on inner discipline. Themes self‑control philosophy determinism contentment mindset Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal goal setting - stress management - decision making - ethical living Key Concepts stoicism autonomy inner peace Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance acceptance of external limits with personal ambition? - What practices help you align desires with reality? A Different Perspective External circumstances can still heavily influence outcomes despite inner control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [My third maxim was to try always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and to change my desires rather than the order of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/my-third-maxim-was-to-try-always-to-conquer-myself-rather-than/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [I was driven, as have been many writers, both by a repulsion of the childhood home's narrow confines and a desire to reach further,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/i-was-driven-as-have-been-many-writers-both-by-a-repulsion-of-the/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [When we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, something wonderful happens: God begins to change our desires, and we want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/when-we-enter-into-a-personal-relationship-with-jesus-christ/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“My third maxim was to try always to master myself rather than fortune and change my desires rather than changing how things stand in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/descartes/my-third-maxim-was-to-try-always-to-master-myself-rather-than-fortune/) [Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/descartes/) > [The goal...is not to change your desires and wishes but to persuade you to stop demanding that you absolutely must have what you wish-from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-goal-is-not-to-change-your-desires-and-wishes-but-to-persuade-you/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“The foremost, or indeed the sole condition, which is required in order to succeed in centralizing the supreme power in a democratic community, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-foremost-or-indeed-the-sole-condition-which-is-required-in-order/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [What should have died along with communism is the belief that modern societies can be run on a single principle, whether that of planning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-taylor/what-should-have-died-along-with-communism-is-the-belief-that-modern/) [Charles Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-taylor/) > [As the grand discordant harmony of the celestial bodies may be explained by the simple principles of gravity and impulse, so also in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/as-the-grand-discordant-harmony-of-the-celestial-bodies-may-be/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Marquise de Merteuil: I've distilled every thing to one single principle: win or die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/marquise-de-merteuil-i-ve-distilled-every-thing-to-one-single/) [Pierre Choderlos de Laclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/) > [“Why is it anytime somethin's different, it's automatically wrong? 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