Perfect numbers like perfect men are very rare.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Descartes compares perfect numbers to perfect men, suggesting both are extremely uncommon.
- In plain terms
- Perfect things are very rare.
- What can you take from it?
- Perfection is uncommon in numbers and people.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does perfection mean to you?
- Are flawless things valuable?
Another view
The comparison relies on a subjective definition of human perfection.
More from Rene Descartes
Omnia apud me mathematica fiunt.
Permalink to quote #35 The long concatenations of simple and easy reasoning which geometricians use in achieving their most difficult demonstrations gave me occasion to imagine that …
Permalink to quote #37 De omnibus dubitandum
Permalink to quote #34
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