Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	great_a	know_v	word_n	4,458	5	3.8471	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35745	A discourse of a method for the well guiding of reason, and the discovery of truth in the sciences; Discours de la méthode. English	Descartes, René, 1596-1650.	1649 (1649)	Wing D1129; ESTC R22748	43,779	138

understand_v wherein_o they_o may_v contribute_v to_o my_o design_n and_o i_o think_v it_o easy_a for_o i_o to_o choose_v some_o matter_n which_o be_v not_o subject_a to_o many_o controversy_n nor_o oblige_v i_o to_o declare_v any_o more_o of_o my_o principle_n than_o i_o will_v willing_o will_v nevertheless_o express_v clear_o enough_o what_o my_o ability_n or_o defect_n be_v in_o the_o science_n wherein_o i_o can_v say_v whether_o i_o have_v succeed_v or_o no_o neither_o will_v i_o prevent_v the_o judgement_n of_o any_o man_n by_o speak_v of_o my_o own_o writing_n but_o i_o shall_v be_v glad_a they_o may_v be_v examine_v and_o to_o that_o end_n i_o beseech_v all_o those_o who_o have_v any_o objection_n to_o make_v to_o take_v the_o pain_n to_o send_v they_o to_o my_o stationer_n that_o i_o be_v advertise_v by_o he_o may_v endeavour_v at_o the_o same_o time_n to_o adjoin_v my_o answer_n thereunto_o and_o by_o that_o mean_n the_o reader_n see_v both_o the_o one_o and_o the_o other_o may_v the_o more_o easy_o judge_v of_o the_o truth_n for_o i_o promise_v that_o i_o will_v never_o make_v any_o long_a answer_n but_o only_o very_o free_o confess_v my_o own_o fault_n if_o i_o find_v they_o or_o if_o i_o can_v discover_v they_o plain_o say_v what_o i_o shall_v think_v requisite_a in_o defence_n of_o what_o i_o have_v write_v without_o add_v the_o explanation_n of_o any_o new_a matter_n that_o i_o may_v not_o endless_o engage_v myself_o out_o of_o one_o into_o another_o now_o if_o there_o be_v any_o whereof_o i_o have_v speak_v in_o the_o beginning_n of_o the_o optic_n and_o of_o the_o meteor_n which_o at_o first_o jar_v by_o reason_n that_o i_o call_v they_o supposition_n and_o that_o i_o seem_v not_o willing_a to_o prove_v they_o let_v a_o man_n have_v but_o the_o tience_n to_o read_v the_o whole_a attentive_o and_o i_o hope_v he_o will_v rest_v satisfy_v for_o methinks_v the_o reason_n follow_v each_o other_o so_o close_o that_o as_o the_o late_a be_v demonstrate_v by_o the_o former_a which_o be_v their_o cause_n the_o former_a be_v reciprocal_o prove_v by_o the_o late_a which_o be_v their_o effect_n and_o no_o man_n can_v imagine_v that_o i_o herein_o commit_v the_o fault_n which_o the_o logician_n call_v a_o circle_n for_o experience_n render_v the_o great_a part_n of_o these_o effect_n most_o certain_a the_o cause_n whence_o i_o deduce_v they_o serve_v not_o so_o much_o to_o prove_v as_o to_o explain_v they_o but_o on_o the_o contrary_a they_o be_v those_o which_o be_v prove_v by_o they_o neither_o name_v i_o they_o supposition_n that_o it_o may_v be_v know_v that_o i_o conceive_v myself_o able_a to_o deduce_v they_o from_o those_o first_o truth_n which_o i_o have_v before_o discover_v but_o that_o i_o will_v not_o express_o do_v it_o to_o cross_v certain_a spirit_n who_o imagine_v that_o they_o know_v in_o a_o day_n all_o what_o another_o may_v have_v think_v in_o twenty_o year_n as_o soon_o as_o he_o have_v tell_v they_o but_o two_o or_o three_o word_n and_o who_o be_v so_o much_o the_o more_o subject_a to_o err_v and_o less_o capable_a of_o the_o truth_n as_o they_o be_v more_o quick_a and_o penetrate_v from_o take_v occasion_n of_o erect_v some_o extravagant_a philosophy_n on_o what_o they_o may_v believe_v to_o be_v my_o principle_n and_o lest_o the_o fault_n shall_v be_v attribute_v to_o i_o for_o as_o for_o those_o opinion_n which_o be_v whole_o i_o i_o excuse_v they_o not_o as_o be_v new_a because_o that_o if_o the_o reason_n of_o they_o be_v serious_o consider_v i_o assure_v myself_o they_o will_v be_v find_v so_o plain_a and_o so_o agreeable_a to_o common_a sense_n that_o they_o will_v seem_v less_o extraordinary_a and_o strange_a than_o any_o other_o which_o may_v be_v hold_v on_o the_o same_o subject_n neither_o do_v i_o boast_v that_o i_o be_o the_o first_o inventor_n of_o any_o of_o they_o but_o of_o this_o indeed_o that_o i_o never_o admit_v any_o of_o they_o neither_o because_o they_o have_v or_o have_v not_o be_v say_v by_o other_o but_o only_o because_o reason_n persuade_v i_o to_o they_o if_o mechanic_n can_v so_o soon_o put_v in_o practise_v the_o invention_n which_o be_v set_v forth_o in_o the_o optic_n i_o believe_v that_o therefore_o man_n ought_v not_o to_o condemn_v it_o forasmuch_o as_o skill_n and_o practice_n be_v necessary_a for_o the_o make_v and_o complete_v the_o machine_n i_o have_v describe_v so_o that_o no_o circumstrance_n shall_v be_v want_v i_o shall_v no_o less_o wonder_n if_o they_o shall_v succeed_v at_o first_o trial_n then_o if_o a_o man_n shall_v learn_v in_o a_o day_n to_o play_v excellent_o well_o on_o a_o lute_n by_o have_v a_o exact_a piece_n set_v before_o he_o and_o if_o i_o write_v in_o french_a which_o be_v the_o language_n of_o my_o country_n rather_o than_o in_o latin_a which_o be_v that_o of_o my_o tutor_n it_o be_v because_o i_o hope_v such_o who_o use_v their_o mere_a natural_a reason_n will_v better_o judge_v of_o my_o opinion_n than_o those_o who_o only_o believe_v in_o old_a book_n and_o for_o those_o who_o join_v a_o right_a understanding_n with_o study_n who_o i_o only_o wish_v for_o my_o judge_n i_o assure_v myself_o they_o will_v not_o be_v so_o partial_a to_o the_o latin_a as_o to_o refuse_v to_o read_v my_o reason_n because_o i_o express_v they_o in_o a_o vulgar_a tongue_n to_o conclude_v i_o will_v not_o speak_v here_o in_o particular_a of_o the_o progress_n i_o hope_v to_o make_v hereafter_o in_o learning_n nor_o engage_v myself_o by_o any_o promise_n to_o the_o public_a which_o i_o be_o not_o certain_a to_o perform_v but_o i_o shall_v only_o say_v that_o i_o be_o resolve_v to_o employ_v the_o remainder_n of_o my_o life_n in_o no_o other_o thing_n but_o the_o study_n to_o acquire_v some_o such_o knowledge_n of_o nature_n as_o may_v furnish_v we_o with_o more_o certain_a rule_n in_o physic_n than_o we_o hitherto_o have_v have_v and_o that_o my_o inclination_n drive_v i_o so_o strong_o from_o all_o other_o kind_n of_o design_n chief_o from_o those_o which_o can_v be_v profitable_a to_o any_o but_o by_o prejudice_v other_o that_o if_o any_o occasion_n oblige_v i_o to_o spend_v my_o time_n therein_o i_o shall_v believe_v i_o shall_v never_o succeed_v therein_o which_o i_o here_o declare_v though_o i_o well_o know_v it_o conduce_v not_o to_o make_v i_o considerable_a in_o the_o world_n neither_o be_v it_o my_o ambition_n to_o be_v so_o and_o i_o shall_v esteem_v myself_o always_o more_o oblige_v to_o those_o by_o who_o favour_n i_o shall_v without_o disturbance_n enjoy_v my_o ease_n then_o to_o they_o who_o shall_v proffer_v i_o the_o most_o honourable_a employment_n of_o the_o earth_n finis_fw-la

whatsoever_o it_o be_v which_o they_o may_v acquire_v i_o may_v give_v i_o any_o occasion_n of_o mispend_v the_o time_n i_o have_v design_v to_o employ_v for_o my_o instruction_n for_o although_o it_o be_v true_a that_o every_o man_n be_v oblige_v to_o procure_v as_o much_o as_o in_o he_o lie_v the_o good_a of_o other_o and_o that_o to_o be_v profitable_a to_o nobody_o be_v proper_o to_o be_v good_a for_o nothing_o yet_o it_o be_v as_o true_a that_o our_o care_n ought_v to_o reach_v beyond_o the_o present_a time_n and_o that_o it_o be_v good_a to_o omit_v those_o thing_n which_o may_v perhaps_o conduce_v to_o the_o benefit_n of_o those_o who_o be_v alive_a when_o our_o design_n be_v to_o do_v other_o which_o shall_v prove_v far_o more_o advantageous_a to_o our_o posterity_n as_o indeed_o i_o desire_v it_o may_v be_v know_v that_o the_o little_a i_o have_v learn_v hitherto_o be_v almost_o nothing_o in_o comparison_n of_o what_o i_o be_o ignorant_a of_o and_o i_o do_v not_o despair_v to_o be_v able_a to_o learn_v for_o it_o be_v even_o the_o same_o with_o those_o who_o by_o little_a and_o little_o discover_v the_o truth_n in_o learning_n as_o with_o those_o who_o beginning_n to_o grow_v rich_a be_v less_o trouble_v to_o make_v great_a purchase_n than_o they_o be_v before_o when_o they_o be_v poor_a to_o make_v little_a one_o or_o else_o one_o may_v compare_v they_o to_o general_n of_o army_n who_o force_n usual_o increase_v proportionable_o to_o their_o victory_n and_o who_o have_v need_n of_o more_o conduct_n to_o maintain_v themselves_o after_o the_o loss_n of_o a_o battle_n then_o after_o the_o gain_v one_o to_o take_v town_n and_o province_n for_o to_o endeavour_v to_o overcome_v all_o the_o difficulty_n and_o error_n which_o hinder_v we_o to_o come_v to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o truth_n be_v true_o to_o fight_v battle_n and_o to_o receive_v any_o false_a opinion_n touch_v a_o general_a or_o weighty_a matter_n be_v as_o much_o as_o to_o lose_v one_o there_o be_v far_o more_o dexterity_n require_v to_o recover_v our_o former_a condition_n then_o to_o make_v great_a progress_v where_o our_o principle_n be_v already_o certain_a for_o my_o part_n if_o i_o former_o have_v discover_v some_o truth_n in_o learning_n as_o i_o hope_v my_o discourse_n will_v make_v it_o appear_v i_o have_v i_o may_v say_v they_o be_v but_o the_o product_n and_o dependence_n of_o five_o or_o six_o principal_a difficulty_n which_o i_o have_v overcome_v and_o which_o i_o reckon_v for_o so_o many_o win_v battle_n on_o my_o side_n neither_o will_v i_o forbear_v to_o say_v that_o i_o think_v it_o be_v only_o necessary_a for_o i_o to_o win_v two_o or_o three_o more_o such_o whole_o to_o perfect_v my_o design_n and_o that_o i_o be_o not_o so_o old_a but_o according_a to_o the_o ordinary_a course_n of_o nature_n i_o may_v have_v time_n enough_o to_o effect_v it_o but_o i_o believe_v i_o be_o so_o much_o the_o more_o oblige_v to_o husband_n the_o rest_n of_o my_o time_n as_o i_o have_v more_o hope_n to_o employ_v it_o well_o without_o doubt_n i_o shall_v have_v divers_a occasion_n of_o impend_v it_o shall_v i_o publish_v the_o ground_n of_o my_o physics_n for_o although_o they_o be_v almost_o all_o so_o evident_a that_o to_o believe_v they_o it_o be_v needful_a only_a to_o understand_v they_o and_o that_o there_o be_v none_o whereof_o i_o think_v myself_o unable_a to_o give_v demonstration_n yet_o because_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o they_o shall_v agree_v with_o all_o the_o several_a opinion_n of_o other_o man_n i_o foresee_v i_o shall_v often_o be_v divert_v by_o the_o opposition_n they_o will_v occasion_v it_o may_v be_v object_v these_o opposition_n may_v be_v profitable_a as_o well_o to_o make_v i_o know_v my_o fault_n as_o if_o any_o thing_n of_o i_o be_v good_a to_o make_v other_o by_o that_o mean_n come_v to_o a_o better_a understanding_n thereof_o and_o as_o many_o may_v see_v more_o than_o one_o man_n begin_v from_o this_o time_n to_o make_v use_n of_o my_o ground_n they_o may_v also_o help_v i_o with_o their_o invention_n but_o although_o i_o know_v myself_o extreme_o subject_a to_o fail_v and_o do_v never_o almost_o trust_v my_o first_o thought_n yet_o the_o experience_n i_o have_v of_o the_o objection_n which_o may_v be_v make_v unto_o i_o hinder_v i_o from_o hope_v for_o any_o profit_n from_o they_o for_o i_o have_v often_o try_v the_o judgement_n as_o well_o of_o those_o who_o i_o esteem_v my_o friend_n as_o of_o other_o who_o i_o think_v indifferent_a and_o even_o also_o of_o some_o who_o malignity_n and_o envy_n do_v sufficient_o discover_v what_o the_o affection_n of_o my_o friend_n may_v hide_v but_o it_o seldom_o happen_v that_o any_o thing_n be_v object_v against_o i_o which_o i_o have_v not_o altogether_o foresee_v unless_o it_o be_v very_o remote_a from_o my_o subject_n so_o that_o i_o never_o almost_o meet_v with_o any_o censurer_n of_o my_o opinion_n that_o seem_v unto_o i_o either_o less_o rigorous_a or_o less_o equitable_a than_o myself_o neither_o do_v i_o ever_o observe_v that_o by_o the_o disputation_n practise_v in_o the_o school_n any_o truth_n which_o be_v former_o unknown_a be_v ever_o discover_v for_o while_o every_o one_o seek_v to_o overcome_v man_n strive_v more_o to_o maintain_v probability_n then_o to_o weigh_v the_o reason_n on_o both_o side_n and_o those_o who_o for_o a_o long_a time_n have_v be_v good_a advocate_n be_v not_o therefore_o the_o better_a judge_n afterwards_o as_o for_o the_o benefit_n which_o other_o may_v receive_v from_o the_o communication_n of_o my_o thought_n it_o can_v also_o be_v very_o great_a forasmuch_o as_o i_o have_v not_o yet_o perfect_v they_o but_o that_o it_o be_v necessary_a to_o add_v many_o thing_n thereunto_o before_o a_o useful_a application_n can_v be_v make_v of_o they_o and_o i_o think_v i_o may_v say_v without_o vanity_n that_o if_o there_o be_v any_o one_o capable_a thereof_o it_o must_v be_v my_o self_n rather_o than_o any_o other_o not_o but_o that_o there_o may_v be_v divers_a wit_n in_o the_o world_n incomparable_o better_o than_o i_o but_o because_o man_n can_v so_o well_o conceive_v a_o thing_n and_o make_v it_o their_o own_o when_o they_o learn_v it_o of_o another_o as_o when_o they_o invent_v it_o themselves_o which_o be_v so_o true_a in_o this_o subject_a that_o although_o i_o have_v often_o explain_v some_o of_o my_o opinion_n to_o very_o understand_v man_n and_o who_o while_o i_o speak_v to_o they_o seem_v very_o distinct_o to_o conceive_v they_o yet_o when_o they_o repeat_v they_o i_o observe_v that_o they_o change_v they_o almost_o always_o in_o such_o a_o manner_n that_o i_o can_v no_o long_o own_v they_o for_o i_o upon_o which_o occasion_n i_o shall_v glad_o here_o desire_v those_o who_o come_v after_o i_o never_o to_o believe_v those_o thing_n which_o may_v be_v deliver_v to_o they_o for_o i_o when_o i_o have_v not_o publish_v they_o myself_o and_o i_o do_v not_o at_o all_o wonder_n at_o the_o extravagancy_n which_o be_v attribute_v to_o all_o those_o ancient_a philosopher_n who_o writing_n we_o have_v not_o neither_o do_v i_o thereby_o judge_v that_o their_o thought_n be_v very_o irrational_a see_v they_o be_v the_o best_a wit_n of_o their_o time_n but_o only_o that_o they_o have_v be_v ill_o convey_v to_o we_o as_o it_o appear_v also_o that_o never_o any_o of_o their_o follower_n surpass_v they_o and_o i_o assure_v myself_o that_o the_o most_o passionate_a of_o those_o who_o now_o follow_v aristotle_n will_v believe_v himself_o happy_a have_v he_o but_o as_o much_o knowledge_n of_o nature_n as_o he_o have_v although_o it_o be_v on_o condition_n that_o he_o never_o may_v have_v more_o they_o be_v like_o the_o ivy_n which_o seek_v to_o climb_v no_o high_o than_o the_o tree_n which_o support_v it_o and_o ever_o after_o tend_v downward_o again_o when_o it_o have_v attain_v to_o the_o height_n thereof_o for_o methinks_v also_o that_o such_o man_n sink_v downward_o that_o be_v to_o say_v render_v themselves_o in_o some_o manner_n less_o know_v then_o if_o they_o do_v abstain_v from_o study_v who_o be_v not_o content_a to_o know_v all_o which_o be_v intelligible_o set_v down_o in_o their_o author_n will_v beside_o that_o find_v out_o the_o solution_n of_o divers_a difficulty_n of_o which_o he_o say_v nothing_o and_o perhaps_o never_o think_v of_o they_o yet_o their_o way_n of_o philosophy_n be_v very_o fit_a for_o those_o who_o have_v but_o mean_a capacity_n for_o the_o obscurity_n of_o the_o distinction_n and_o principle_n which_o they_o use_v cause_v they_o to_o speak_v of_o all_o thing_n as_o bold_o as_o if_o they_o know_v they_o and_o maintain_v all_o which_o they_o say_v against_o the_o most_o subtle_a and_o most_o able_a so_o that_o