"Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power"
- Rene Descartes
About this Quote
Rene Descartes' quote recommends that our ideas are the only thing that we have total control over. He suggests that we have no control over external occasions or circumstances, which our power is restricted to our own ideas. This idea remains in line with his philosophical idea of dualism, which mentions that the body and mind are two distinct entities. Descartes believed that the mind is the only thing that is genuinely in our control, and that our physical bodies are subject to the laws of nature. This quote is a tip that we must concentrate on our own ideas and actions, instead of attempting to control the external world. It motivates us to take obligation for our own lives and to take advantage of our own capabilities. Ultimately, Descartes' quote is a tip that we need to strive to be the best version of ourselves, and that our ideas are the only thing that we can truly control.