Skip to content

The greater part of mankind may be divided into two…

“The greater part of mankind may be divided into two classes; that of shallow thinkers who fall short of the truth; and that of abstruse thinkers who go beyond it.” quote by David Hume
Download Open image
“The greater part of mankind may be divided into two classes; that of shallow thinkers who fall short of the truth; and that of abstruse thinkers who go beyond it.”

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.

He categorizes thinkers into shallow (limited) and abstruse (deep) groups.

In simple terms: Two types of thinkers: shallow and deep.

Key Takeaway

Encourage deeper, critical thinking.

Themes

philosophy critical thinking intellectual depth education human nature

Mood

analytical introspective

Type

philosophical academic

When to use this quote

  • academic curricula
  • debate clubs
  • research seminars
  • personal study groups
  • public lectures

Key Concepts

epistemology cognitive psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What defines a shallow thinker?
  • How can one develop abstruse thinking?
A Different Perspective

Labels may oversimplify intellectual diversity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by David Hume

Explore all 487 David Hume quotes

More Class quotes

Browse all 7,637 Class quotes