--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: that we conduct our thoughts along…" description: "\"“that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects.”\" — René Descartes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/ren-descartes-1376_conduct_that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-diffe_2690010.png" --- # that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do… ![“that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects.” quote by René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/ren-descartes-1376_conduct_that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-diffe_2690010.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/ren-descartes-1376_conduct_that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-diffe_2690010.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/ren-descartes-1376_conduct_that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-diffe_2690010.png) > ““that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects.”” [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. We should diversify our thoughts and avoid fixating on a single perspective. **In simple terms:** Think in many ways, not just one. Key Takeaway Broaden your mental focus. Themes open‑mindedness critical thinking diversity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - problem solving - creative brainstorming - learning new skills Key Concepts philosophy cognitive flexibility Questions to Reflect On - What new viewpoint could you explore? - How does fixation limit growth? A Different Perspective Changing focus can cause indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[...\] the diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise from some being endowed with a larger share of reason than others, but solely… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/the-diversity-of-our-opinions-consequently-does-not-arise-from-some/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“The third, to conduct my thoughts in such order that, by commencing with objects the simplest and easiest to know, I might ascend by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/the-third-to-conduct-my-thoughts-in-such-order-that-by-commencing/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [In the present time you don't really establish what you're going through, but after time it's declared something. Right now there could be some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hedlund/in-the-present-time-you-don-t-really-establish-what-you-re-going/) [Garrett Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hedlund/) > [Novelty may fix our attention not even on the service but on the celebrant. You know what I mean. Try as one may to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/novelty-may-fix-our-attention-not-even-on-the-service-but-on-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Anyways, the secret is, always fix their attention \*away\* from where the slippery stuff's going on. That's the first law of magic, Specs. Misdirection.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/anyways-the-secret-is-always-fix-their-attention-away-from-where-the/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Every year of my life I grow more convinced that it is wisest and best to fix our attention on the beautiful and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-year-of-my-life-i-grow-more-convinced-that-it-is-wisest-and/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [We often fool ourselves that we are concentrating because we fix our attention on wavering objects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/we-often-fool-ourselves-that-we-are-concentrating-because-we-fix-our/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of a man, and fix our attention on his infirmities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/what-an-absurd-thing-it-is-to-pass-over-all-the-valuable-parts-of-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Don't listen to their words, fix your attention on their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/don-t-listen-to-their-words-fix-your-attention-on-their-deeds/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [To fix your attention on the best is to surround yourself with the best, and to become the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/to-fix-your-attention-on-the-best-is-to-surround-yourself-with-the/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [Concentration, itself, is nothing but a matter of control of the attention! Learn to fix your attention on a given subject, at will, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/concentration-itself-is-nothing-but-a-matter-of-control-of-the/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Your business is to fix his attention on the stream. Teach him to call it ‘real life’ and don’t let him ask what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/your-business-is-to-fix-his-attention-on-the-stream-teach-him-to-call/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Let us fix our attention out of ourselves as much as possible; let us chase our imagination to the heavens, or to the utmost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/let-us-fix-our-attention-out-of-ourselves-as-much-as-possible-let-us/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [We wanna believe that we're different than the average guy that's working 9-to-5, that our thoughts are different than his. Our inspirations and desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/we-wanna-believe-that-we-re-different-than-the-average-guy-that-s/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [The change is radical it gives us new natures, it makes us love what we hated and hate what we loved, it sets us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-change-is-radical-it-gives-us-new-natures-it-makes-us-love-what/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) ## More by René 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 René Descartes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) ## More Conduct quotes > [Let everyone regulate his conduct... by the golden rule of doing to others as in similar circumstances we would have them do to us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/let-everyone-regulate-his-conduct-by-the-golden-rule-of-doing-to/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Al Jazeera is a representation of, you know, diversity in the Arab world. In our newsroom, we have every single nationality, we have every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/al-jazeera-is-a-representation-of-you-know-diversity-in-the-arab/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be kindly and just in your dealings with your men. Never play favorites. Make them feel that justice tempered with mercy may always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-lejeune/be-kindly-and-just-in-your-dealings-with-your-men-never-play/) [John A. Lejeune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-lejeune/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The border is varied depending on the geography, depending on the specific venue, and depending on the conduct of individuals around it. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-border-is-varied-depending-on-the-geography-depending-on-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [The Icesave matter is complex and it is understandable that the issue has been oversimplified by many. Unfortunately some of the basic facts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-siguroardottir/the-icesave-matter-is-complex-and-it-is-understandable-that-the-issue/) [Johanna Siguroardottir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-siguroardottir/) > [Our First Amendment expresses a far different calculus for regulating speech than for regulating nonexpressive conduct and that is as it should be. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/our-first-amendment-expresses-a-far-different-calculus-for-regulating/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [If a man be under the influence of anger his conduct will not be correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-a-man-be-under-the-influence-of-anger-his-conduct-will-not-be/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Sheel (the highest state of conduct in worldly interaction) is where not even an iota of a wrong intent arises within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/sheel-the-highest-state-of-conduct-in-worldly-interaction-is-where/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Man has long found solace in good talk to offset bad conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/man-has-long-found-solace-in-good-talk-to-offset-bad-conduct/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Whence do I get my rules of conduct? I find them in my heart. Whatever I feel to be good is good. Whatever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/whence-do-i-get-my-rules-of-conduct-i-find-them-in-my-heart-whatever/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [We shall use the terms morality, behavior, conduct, or constructive action in the same broad way. It may sound strange to speak of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-patten/we-shall-use-the-terms-morality-behavior-conduct-or-constructive/) William Patten > [The first step in freeing yourself from social restrictions is the realization that there is no such thing as a safe code of conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-first-step-in-freeing-yourself-from-social-restrictions-is-the/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) Browse all 465 Conduct quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "René Descartes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-different-ways-and-do-not-fix-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conduct" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-different-ways-and-do-not-fix-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/ren-descartes-1376_conduct_that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-diffe_2690010.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/ren-descartes-1376_conduct_that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-diffe_2690010.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/ren-descartes-1376_conduct_that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-diffe_2690010.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects.” — René Descartes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "René Descartes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“that we conduct our thoughts along...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-different-ways-and-do-not-fix-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/that-we-conduct-our-thoughts-along-different-ways-and-do-not-fix-our/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```