The reading of all good books is indeed like a conversation with the noblest men of past centuries who were the authors of them, nay a carefully stud… - 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, and in general, accustom myself to the persuasion that, except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power;

"In everyday life we must often act without delay, it is a most certain truth that when it is not in our power to discern the truest opinions, we must follow the most probable." (Discourse III, AT VI: 25/CSM I: 123)

[Descartes discusses a traveler lost in a forest to illustrate this. The traveler is lost, and he does not know how to get out of the woods. Descartes’ advice is that the traveler should pick a route, even if it is uncertain, and resolutely stick to it:

"Keep walking as straight as he can in one direction, never changing it for slight reasons even if mere chance made him choose it in the first place; for in this way, even if he does not go exactly where he wishes, he will at least end up in a place where he is likely to be better off than in the middle of a forest." (Ibid.)]

Nihilque ab ullo credi velim, nisi quod ipsi evidens et invicta ratio persuadebit.

Δεν θα ήθελα να πιστέψετε τίποτα από όσα έγραψα εκτός κι αν έχετε πειστεί γι' αυτά μέσα από τη δύναμη και τις αποδείξεις της λογικής.