Just as we believe by faith that the greatest happiness of the next life consists simply in the contemplation of this divine majesty, likewise we experience that we derive the greatest joy of which we are capable in this life from the same contemplation, even though it is much less perfect.

...it is certain that I am really distinct from my body, and can exist without it.

I can doubt everything, except one thing, and that is the very fact that I doubt. Simply put - I think, therefore I am

Divide each difficulty at hand into as many pieces as possible and as could be required to better solve them.

These long chains of perfectly simple and easy reasonings by means of which geometers are accustomed to carry out their most difficult demonstrations had led me to fancy that everything that can fall under human knowledge forms a similar sequence; and that so long as we avoid accepting as true what is not so, and always preserve the right order of deduction of one thing from another, there can be nothing too remote to be reached in the end, or to well hidden to be discovered.

It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.

Wonder is the first of all the passions.