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was sufficient to determine me to their cultivation： for I was not； thank
Heaven； in a condition which pelled 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 honor which I
hoped to acquire only through fictitious titles。 And； in fine； of false
sciences I thought I knew the worth sufficiently to escape being deceived
by the professions of an alchemist； the predictions of an astrologer； the
impostures of a magician； or by the artifices and boasting of any of those
who profess to know things of which they are ignorant。
For these reasons； as soon as my age permitted me to pass from under
the control of my instructors； I entirely abandoned the study of letters； and
resolved no longer to seek any other science than the knowledge of myself；
or of the great book of the world。 I spent the remainder of my youth in
traveling； in visiting courts and armies； in holding intercourse with men of
different dispositions and ranks； in collecting varied experience； in
proving myself in the different situations into which fortune threw me； and；
above all； in making such reflection on the matter of my experience as to
secure my improvement。 For it occurred to me that I should find much
more truth in the reasonings of each individual with reference to the affairs
in which he is personally interested； and the issue of which must presently
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
punish him if he has judged amiss； than in those conducted by a man of
letters in his study； regarding speculative matters that are of no practical
moment； and followed by no consequences to himself； farther； perhaps；
than that they foster his vanity the better the more remote they are from
mon sense； requiring； as they must in this case； the exercise of greater
ingenuity and art to render them probable。 In addition； I had always a
most earnest desire to know how to distinguish the true from the false； in
order that I might be able clearly to discriminate the right path in life； and
proceed in it with confidence。
It is true that； while busied only in considering the manners of other
men； I found here； too； scarce any ground for settled conviction； and
remarked hardly less contradiction among them than in the opinions of the
philosophers。 So that the greatest advantage I derived from the study
consisted in this； that； observing many things which； however extravagant
and ridiculous to our apprehension； are yet by mon consent received
and approved by other great nations； I learned to entertain too decided a
belief in regard to nothing of the truth of which I had been persuaded
merely by example and custom； and thus I gradually extricated myself
from many errors powerful enough to darken our natural intelligence； and
incapacitate us in great measure from listening to reason。 But after I had
been occupied several years in thus studying the book of the world； and in
essaying to gather some experience； I at length resolved to make myself an
object of study； and to employ all the powers of my mind in choosing the
paths I ought to follow； an undertaking which was acpanied with
greater success than it would have been had I never quitted my country or
my books。
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
PART II
I was then in Germany； attracted thither by the wars in that country；
which have not yet been brought to a termination； and as I was returning
to the army from the coronation of the emperor； the setting in of winter
arrested me in a locality where； as I found no society to interest me； and
was besides fortunately undisturbed by any cares or passions； I remained
the whole day in seclusion； with full opportunity to occupy my attention
with my own thoughts。 Of these one of the very first that occurred to me
was； that there is seldom so much perfection in works posed of many
separate parts； upon which different hands had been employed； as in those
pleted by a single master。 Thus it is observable that the buildings
which a single architect has planned and executed； are generally more
elegant and modious than those which several have attempted to
improve； by making old walls serve for purposes for which they were not
originally built。 Thus also； those ancient cities which； from being at first
only villages； have bee； in course of time； large towns； are usually but
ill laid out pared with the regularity constructed towns which a
professional architect has freely planned on an open plain； so that although
the several buildings of the former may often equal or surpass in beauty
those of the latter； yet when one observes their indiscriminate
juxtaposition； there a large one and here a small； and the consequent
crookedness and irregularity of the streets； one is disposed to allege that
chance rather than any human will guided by reason must have led to such
an arrangement。 And if we consider that nevertheless there have been at
all times certain officers whose duty it was to see that private buildings
contributed to public ornament； the difficulty of reaching high perfection
with but the materials of others to operate on； will be readily
acknowledged。 In the same way I fancied that those nations which；
starting from a semi…barbarous state and advancing to civilization by slow
degrees； have had their laws successively determined； and； as it were；
forced upon them simply by experience of the hurtfulness of particular
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
crimes and disputes； would by this process e to be possessed of less
perfect institutions than those which； from the mencement of their
association as munities； have followed the appointments of some wise
legislator。 It is thus quite certain that the constitution of the true religion；
the ordinances of which are derived from God； must be inparably
superior to that of every other。 And； to speak of human affairs； I believe
that the pre…eminence of Sparta was due not to the goodness of each of its
laws in particular； for many of these were very strange； and even opposed
to good morals； but to the circumstance that； originated by a single
individual； they all tended to a single end。 In the same way I thought that
the sciences contained in books （such of them at least as are made up of
probable reasonings； without demonstrations）； posed as they are of the
opinions of many different individuals massed together； are farther
removed from truth than the simple inferences which a man of good sense
using his natural and unprejudiced judgment draws respecting the matters
of his experience。 And because we have