DISCOURSE ON METHOD. 23 



necessary first of all to endeavour to establish its 

 principles. And because I observed, besides, that 

 an inquiry of this kind was of all others of the great 

 est moment, and one in which precipitancy and 

 anticipation in judgment were most to be dreaded, I 

 thought that I ought not to approach it till I had 

 reached a more mature age, (being at that time but 

 twenty- three,) and had first of all employed much of 

 my time in preparation for the work, as well by 

 eradicating from my mind all the erroneous opinions 

 I had up to that moment accepted, as by amassing 

 variety of experience to afford materials for my 

 reasonings, and by continually exercising myself in 

 my chosen Method with a view to increased skill in 

 its application. 



