Discourse on Method. 



PART I. 



GOOD SENSE is, of all things among men, the most 

 equally distributed ; for every one thinks himself so _. 

 abundantly provided with it, that those even who 

 are the most difficult to satisfy in everything else, 

 do not usually desire a larger measure of this quality 

 than they already possess. And in this it is not 

 likely that all are mistaken : ' the conviction is rather 

 to be held as testifying that the power of judging 

 aright and of distinguishing T^ruth from Error, 

 which is properly what is called Good Sense or 

 Reason, is by nature equal in all men ; and that the 

 diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise 

 from some being endowed with a larger share of 

 Reason than others, but solely from this, that we 

 conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do 

 not fix our attention on the same objects. For to 

 be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough ; the 

 prime requisite is rightly to apply it. J- The greatest 

 minds, as they are capable of the highest excel- 

 lencies, are open likewise to the greatest aberra- 



