It took Descartes a long time before he realized how many false beliefs and assumptions he had from his childhood. To start over with a new mind set, he had to totally rid himself of assuming things been true or things that he had not questioned but had rather accepted as a truth. Descartes waited for a when he was retired to come up with his opinions and question the truths. He therefore had plenty of time to ponder and really nothing to loose in terms of leisure, care and passion. What Descartes first meditation starts out to do is not to base or accept as the most true certain things his senses had made him accept as true. For example, if Descartes saw a piece of wood when he was young