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The principal use of prudence, of self-control, is that it teaches us to be masters of our passions, and to so control and guide them that the evils which they cause are quite bearable, and that we even derive joy from them all.
Rene Descartes
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Prudence and self-control help us manage our passions, turning potential negatives into manageable experiences.

In this quote, Descartes emphasizes the importance of prudence and self-control in our lives. He suggests that by mastering our passions, we can prevent the adverse effects they may cause, allowing us not only to cope with the challenges they bring but also to find joy in navigating them. Ultimately, the quote highlights the transformative power of self-discipline in fostering a fulfilling life.

Themes

PrudenceSelf-ControlPassionsMasteryJoy

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about overcoming personal challenges, this quote can emphasize the value of self-control.

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Mathematics is a more powerful instrument of knowledge than any other that has been bequeathed to us by human agency.
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Before examining this more carefully and investigating its consequences, I want to dwell for a moment in the contemplation of God, to ponder His attributes in me, to see, admire, and adore the beauty of His boundless light, insofar as my clouded insight allows. Believing that the supreme happiness of the other life consists wholly of the contemplation of divine greatness, I now find that through less perfect contemplation of the same sort I can gain the greatest joy available in this life.
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I am accustomed to sleep and in my dreams to imagine the same things that lunatics imagine when awake.
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The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues.
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