“Denken ist danken.” I’ve repeated Heidegger’s axiom a number of times, but what makes this true? One angle: Our thoughts are distorted by fear, bitterness, hatred, anger, frustration, discontent, envy. But thankfulness is a solvent of all these; the thankful man cannot be frustrated with the portion he receives from the Lord, or envious of his neighbor who has received a larger portion. In this way, thanksgiving is a purification of the mind.
So, the foundation of knowledge is not: Cogito ergo sum. But: tibi semper et ubique gratias agere.
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