8 DESCARTES. 



to understand that the way is not less open to the 

 most ignorant than to the most learned, and that the 

 revealed truths which lead to heaven are above our 

 comprehension, I did not presume to subject them to 

 the impotency of my Reason ; and I thought that in 

 order competently to undertake their examination, 

 /"there was need of some special help from heaven, 

 and of being more than man/ 



Of Philosophy I will say nothing, except that 

 when I saw that it had been cultivated for many 

 ages by the most distinguished men, and that yet 

 there is not a single matter within its sphere which 

 J is not still in dispute, and nothing, therefore, which 

 is above doubt, I did not presume to anticipate that 

 my success would be greater in it than that of 

 others ;Jland further, when I considered the number 

 of conflicting opinions touching a single matter that 

 may be upheld by learned men, while there can be 

 but one true, I reckoned as well-nigh false all that 

 was only probable. 



As to the other Sciences, inasmuch as these bor- 

 row their principles from Philosophy, I judged that 

 no solid superstructures could be reared on founda- 

 tions so infirm\ and neither the honour nor the gain 

 held out by them was sufficient to determine me to 

 their cultivation : for I was not, thank heaven, in a 

 condition which compelled me to make merchandise 

 of Science for the bettering of my fortune; and 

 though I might not profess to scorn glory as a 

 Cynic, I yet made very slight account of that honour 

 which I hoped to acquire only through fictitious 

 titles. And, in fine, of false Sciences I thought I 



