Why is there anything at all rather than nothing whatsoever?

And there must be simple substances, because there are compounds; for the compound is nothing but a collection or aggregatum of simples.

I am convinced that the unwritten knowledge scattered among men of different callings surpasses in quantity and in importance anything we find in books, and that the greater part of our wealth has yet to be recorded.

God's relation to spirits is not like that of a craftsman to his work, but also like that of a prince to his subjects.

Nothing is necessitated whose opposite is possible.

It is worth noting that the notation facilitates discovery. This, in a most wonderful way, reduces the mind's labour.

I agree with you that it is important to examine our presuppositions, throughly and once for all, in order to establish something solid. For I hold that it is only when we can prove all that we bring forward that we perfectly understand the thing under consideration. I know that the common herd takes little pleasure in these researches, but I know also that the common herd take little pains thoroughly to understand things.