It is with books as with women, where a certain plainness of manner and of dress is more engaging than that glare… — David Hume Copy Share Image
Luxury is a word of uncertain signification, and may be taken in a good as in a bad sense — David Hume Copy Share Image
Barbarity, caprice; these qualities, however nominally disguised, we may universally observe from the ruling character of the deity in all regular religions. — David Hume Copy Share Image
And though the philosopher may live remote from business, the genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself… — David Hume Copy Share Image
We may well ask, What causes induce us to believe in the existence of body? but 'tis vain to ask. Whether there… — David Hume Copy Share Image
Justice is a moral virtue, merely because it has that tendency to the good of mankind, and indeed is nothing but an… — David Hume Copy Share Image
I say then, that belief is nothing but a more vivid, lively, forcible, firm, steady conception of an object, than what the… — David Hume Copy Share Image
Every court of criminal justice must have the power of correcting the greatest and dangerous of all abuses of the forms of… — David Hume Copy Share Image
Were a man, whom I know to be honest and opulent, and with whom I live in intimate friendship, to come into… — David Hume Copy Share Image
These arguments on each side (and many more might be produced) are so plausible, that I am apt to suspect, they may,… — David Hume Copy Share Image
Battles, revolutions, pestilence, famine, and death, are never the effect of those natural causes, which we experience. Prodigies,omens, oracles, judgments, quite obscure… — David Hume Copy Share Image
In a vain man, the smallest spark may kindle into the greatest flame, because the materials are always prepared for it. — David Hume Copy Share Image
The greater part of mankind may be divided into two classes; that of shallow thinkers who fall short of the truth; and… — David Hume Copy Share Image
'Tis certain that a serious attention to the sciences and liberal arts softens and humanizes the temper, and cherishes those fine emotions… — David Hume Copy Share Image
The minds of men are mirrors to one another, not only because they reflect each other's emotions, but also because those rays… — David Hume Copy Share Image
The best taxes are such as are levied upon consumptions, especially those of luxury; because such taxes are least felt by the… — David Hume Copy Share Image
There is only one vice, which may be found in life with as strong features, and as high a colouring as needs… — David Hume Copy Share Image
Liberty is a blessing so inestimable, that, wherever there appears any probability of recovering it, a nation may willingly run many hazards,… — David Hume Copy Share Image
If ... the past may be no Rule for the future, all Experience becomes useless and can give rise to no Inferences… — David Hume Copy Share Image
“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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
...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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
“The most perfect happiness, surely, must arise from the contemplation of the most perfect object.” — David Hume Copy Share Image
