iv DESCARTES' DISCOURSE ON METHOD 169 



a spiritual ancestor, that, at three-and-twenty, ho 

 saw clearly that this was his duty, and acted up to 

 his conviction. At two-and-thirty, in fact, finding 

 all other occupations incompatible with the search 

 .after the knowledge which leads to action, and 

 being possessed of a modest competence, he with- 

 drew into Holland ; where he spent nine years in 

 learning and thinking, in such retirement that 

 only one or two trusted friends knew of his where- 

 abouts. 



In 1637 the first-fruits of these long meditations 

 were given to the world in the famous " Discourse 

 touching the Method of using Reason rightly and 

 of seeking Scientific Truth," which, at once an 

 autobiography and a philosophy, clothes the 

 deepest thought in language of exquisite harmony, 

 simplicity, and clearness. 



The central propositions of the whole "Dis- 

 course " are these. There is a path that leads to 

 truth so surely, that any one who will follow it 

 must needs reach the goal, whether his capacity 

 be great or small. And there is one guiding rule 

 by which a man may always find this path, and 

 keep himself from straying when he has found it. 

 This golden rule is give unqualified assent to no 

 propositions but those the truth of which is so 

 clear and distinct that they cannot be doubted. 



The enunciation of this great first command- 

 ment of science consecrated Doubt. It removed 

 Doubt from the seat of penance among the 



