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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

Yesterday was the birthday of philosopher Rene Descartes. Here are some of 
his best-known quotes:

"An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the 
pessimist always run to blow it out?"

"Common sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world, for each 
one thinks he is so well-endowed with it that even those who are hardest to 
satisfy in all other matters are not in the habit of desiring more of it 
than they already have."

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to 
resolve it."

"Each problem that I solved became a rule, which served afterwards to solve 
other problems."

"Everything is self-evident."

"Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power."

"I think; therefore I am."

"If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least 
once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things."

"Illusory joy is often worth more than genuine sorrow."

"It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well."

"The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds 
of past centuries."