Happy the man whom indulgent fortune allows to pay to…

“Happy the man whom indulgent fortune allows to pay to virtue what he owes to nature, and to make a generous gift of what must otherwise be ravished from him by cruel necessity.”

David Hume

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When fortune allows, one should repay virtue and share generously, avoiding the harshness of necessity.

In simple terms: Repay virtue and share when possible.

Key Takeaway

Act generously when fortunate.

Themes

virtue generosity fortune

Mood

compassionate thoughtful

Type

ethical inspirational

When to use this quote

philanthropy
personal finance
community aid
resource sharing

Key Concepts

ethics human nature reciprocity

Questions to Reflect On

How can we help those lacking fortune?
What limits generosity?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone has the means to give.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

Character Fortune Generous Happiness Kindness Men Nature Virtue Wealth

More by David Hume

“Beauty in things exists in the mind that contemplates them.”

David Hume

“It is impossible for us to think of any thing, which we have not antecedently felt, either by our external or internal senses.”

David Hume

All morality depends upon our sentiments; and when any action or quality of the mind pleases us after a certain manner we say it…

David Hume

And indeed nothing but the most determined scepticism, along with a great degree of indolence, can justify this aversion to metaphysics. For if truth…

David Hume

...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that,…

David Hume

That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will…

David Hume

We may conclude, therefore, that, in order to establish laws for the regulation of property, we must be acquainted with the nature and situation…

David Hume

The observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours…

David Hume

The religious hypothesis, therefore, must be considered only as a particular method of accounting for the visible phenomena of the universe: but no just…

David Hume

Manufacturers...gradually shift their places, leaving those countries and provinces which they have already enriched, and flying to others, whether they are allured by the…

David Hume

We may observe that, in displaying the praises of any humane, beneficent man, there is one circumstance which never fails to be amply insisted…

David Hume

“The most perfect happiness, surely, must arise from the contemplation of the most perfect object.”

David Hume

“They all make up new species of crime and bring unhappiness in their train. When I hear a man is religious , I conclude…

David Hume

There is not to be found, in all history, any miracle attested by a sufficient number of men, of such unquestioned good sense, education…

David Hume

“But though there be naturally a wide difference in point of delicacy between one person and another, nothing tends further to encrease and improve…

David Hume

Explore all 487 David Hume quotes

More Character quotes

This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…

Gail Honeyman

I always like a character who makes me laugh.

Rachael Stirling

Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…

Robert A. Heinlein

Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.

Charles Lamb

I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.

Kate Winslet

When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…

David Hudgins

It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…

Emily Deschanel

If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…

Anonymous

Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…

Harry S. Truman

In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.

Semir Zeki

Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!

Aaron Chan

I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…

Freddie Stroma

If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…

Warwick Davis

Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently

Maya Angelou

I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…

Annie Potts

Browse all 32,707 Character quotes

Happy the man whom indulgent fortune allows to pay to…

About This Quote

Related quotes

More by David Hume

More Character quotes