The reading of good books is like a conversation with the best men of past centuries-in fact like a prepared conversation, in which they reveal only the best of their thoughts.

La lecture de tous les bons livres est comme une conversation avec les plus honnêtes gens des siècles passés, qui en ont été les auteurs, et même une conversation étudiée en laquelle ils ne nous découvrent que les meilleures de leurs pensées.

René Descartes

Discourse on Method

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More information about this quote

Topic

Power of literature Books

Author

René Descartes

Source

Discourse on Method

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1637 1630s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Occupation

Mathematician Philosopher Writer

From

France Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Descartes, René [published anonymously]. Discours de la Méthode: Pour bien conduire sa raison, et chercher la vérité dans les sciences [Discourse on Method: To Conduct Reason Well, and Seek Truth in the Sciences]. Leiden, 1637, pt. 1.

Current Citation

Descartes, René. Discourse on the Method, translated by Ian Maclean. Oxford University Press, 2008, pt. 1.

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A quote by René Descartes about power of literature: “The reading of good books is like a conversation with the best men of…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about Power of literature

A library doesn't need windows. A library is a window.

Stewart Brand

How Buildings Learn

More information about this quote
Topic
Libraries Power of literature

Author

Stewart Brand
Source
How Buildings Learn
Language
English
Time
1994 1990s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Brand, Stewart. How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built. Viking Press, 1994, ch. 3.

Another quote from Age of Enlightenment

The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men,
Gang aft a-gley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief and pain,
For promis'd joy.

Robert Burns

More information about this quote
Topic
Making plans Dashed hopes Fate The unexpected

Author

Robert Burns
Source
To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With the Plough.
Medium
Poem
Language
Scots
Time
1785 1780s 18th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Burns, Robert. "To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plough, November, 1785." Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. Kilmarnock: John Wilson, 1786.

Current Citation

Burns, Robert. "To a Mouse." Robert Burns: Selected Poems, edited by Carol Mcguirk. Penguin Classics, 1994.

Another quote originally in French

God is, or He is not. But to which side shall we incline? Reason can decide nothing here. There is an infinite chaos which separates us. A game is being played at the extremity of this infinite distance where heads or tails will turn up. What will you wager?... If you win, you win everything; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is.

Blaise Pascal

Pensées

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More information about this quote
Topic
Existence of God God Probability

Author

Blaise Pascal
Source
Pensées
Medium
Epigram
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1662 1660s 17th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Pascal, Blaise. Pensées [Thoughts]. Paris: Chez G. Desprez, 1670, no. 229.

Current Citation

Pascal, Blaise. "Pensées." Pensées and Other Writings, edited by Anthony Levi, translated by Honor Levi. Oxford University Press, 2008, no. 229.