26 DESCARTES. 



parties to persevere in it, or even, for the security 

 of commerce, sanction similar engagements where 

 the purpose sought to be realized is indifferent: but 

 because I did not find anything on earth which was 

 wholly superior to change, and because, for myself 

 in particular, I hoped gradually to perfect my judg 

 ments, and not to suffer them to deteriorate, 1 

 would have deemed it a grave sin against good 

 sense, if, for the reason that I approved of some 

 thing at a particular time, I therefore bound myself 

 to hold it for good at a subsequent ^me, when per 

 haps it had ceased to be so, or I had ceased to 

 esteem it such. 



My second maxim was to be as firm and resolute in 

 my actions as I was able, and not to adhere less 

 steadfastly to the most doubtful opinions, when once 

 adopted, than if they had been highly certain; imi 

 tating in this the example of travellers who, 

 when they have lost their way in a forest, ought 

 not to wander from side to side, far less remain in 

 one place, but proceed constantly towards the same 

 side in as straight a line as possible, without chang 

 ing their direction for slight reasons, although per 

 haps it might be chance alone which at first 

 determined the selection; for in. this way, if they do 

 not exactly reach the point they desire, they will 

 come at least in the end to some place that will 

 probably be preferable to the middle of a forest. 

 In the same way, since in action it frequently hap 

 pens that no delay is permissible, it is very certain 

 that, when it is not in our power to determine what 

 is true, we ought to act according to what is most 



