The third maxim expresses the idea that people dont really have control over anything but their thoughts. I think that this is true only to a certain extent. People dont have control over things like natural disasters and a couple of other things but for the most part people control what they choose to control. There are many things in the world that can be controlled but most people choose not until its too late. For example, global warming, low oil, and most traffic accidents. Descartes says "after we have done our best regarding things external to us, everything that is lacking for us to succeed is, from our point of view, absolutely impossible". This has some truth in it because some things are just out of our control and have to be left in God's hands. I believe that all things happen for a reason and sometimes things like wealth are not meant for everybody. Some people are content with just the necessities and to them just having what they absolutely need is being successful. In the third maxim he talks alot about having only they things he needed and that is what mad him happy. He didnt need a bunch of valuable material things like cars, eating at fancy resturants every night, or big expensive houses to make him happy. I totally agree with him when he says that, but it would be nice to have all those things. I think that people just have to work hard for what they want until they get it. Just because they dont have it when they want it does not mean they will never get it. People just have to wait until it is there time to get the things they that want.