May Quotes by David Hume

Art may make a suite of clothes, but nature must produce a man.

— David Hume

Luxury is a word of uncertain signification, and may be taken in a good as in a bad sense

— David Hume

In a vain man, the smallest spark may kindle into the greatest flame, because the materials are always prepared for it.

— David Hume

A man acquainted with history may, in some respect, be said to have lived from the beginning of the world, and to…

— David Hume

Liberty is a blessing so inestimable, that, wherever there appears any probability of recovering it, a nation may willingly run many hazards,…

— David Hume

The greater part of mankind may be divided into two classes; that of shallow thinkers who fall short of the truth; and…

— David Hume

We may well ask, What causes induce us to believe in the existence of body? but 'tis vain to ask. Whether there…

— David Hume

It is harder to avoid censure than to gain applause; for this may be done by one great or wise action in…

— David Hume

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

— David Hume

Barbarity, caprice; these qualities, however nominally disguised, we may universally observe from the ruling character of the deity in all regular religions.

— David Hume

.. that a rule, which, in speculation, may seem the most advantageous to society, may yet be found, in practice, totally pernicious…

— David Hume

The slaving Poor are incapable of any Principles: Gentlemen may be converted to true Principles, by Time and Experience. The middling Rank…

— David Hume

There is, indeed a more mitigated scepticism or academical philosophy, which may be both durable and useful, and which may, in part,…

— David Hume

'Tis certain that a serious attention to the sciences and liberal arts softens and humanizes the temper, and cherishes those fine emotions…

— David Hume

Truth is disputable; not taste: what exists in the nature of things is the standard of our judgement; what each man feels…

— David Hume

A Tory..., since the revolution, may be defined in a few words, to be a lover of monarchy, though without abandoning liberty;…

— David Hume

Justice is a moral virtue, merely because it has that tendency to the good of mankind, and indeed is nothing but an…

— David Hume

... if you insist that the inference is made by a chain of reasoning, I desire you to produce that reasoning. The…

— David Hume

Every court of criminal justice must have the power of correcting the greatest and dangerous of all abuses of the forms of…

— David Hume

But, historians, and even common sense, may inform us, that, however specious these ideas of perfect equality may seem, they are really,…

— David Hume

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

Were a man, whom I know to be honest and opulent, and with whom I live in intimate friendship, to come into…

— David Hume

There is only one vice, which may be found in life with as strong features, and as high a colouring as needs…

— David Hume

Disbelief in futurity loosens in a great measure the ties of morality, and may be for that reason pernicious to the peace…

— David Hume

Habit may lead us to belief and expectation but not to the knowledge, and still less to the understanding, of lawful relations.

— David Hume

If ... the past may be no Rule for the future, all Experience becomes useless and can give rise to no Inferences…

— David Hume

I may venture to affirm the rest of mankind, that they are nothing but a bundle or collection of different perceptions, which…

— David Hume

It is with books as with women, where a certain plainness of manner and of dress is more engaging than that glare…

— David Hume

And though the philosopher may live remote from business, the genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself…

— David Hume

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

It seems certain, that though a man, in a flush of humour, after intense reflection on the many contradictions and imperfections of…

— David Hume

Courage, of all national qualities, is the most precarious; because it is exerted only at intervals, and by a few in every…

— David Hume

But in many orders of beauty, particularly those of the finer arts, it is requisite to employ much reasoning, in order to…

— David Hume

For, besides, that many persons find too sensible an interest in perpetually recalling such topics; besides this, I say, the motive of…

— David Hume

But there still prevails, even in nations well acquainted with commerce, a strong jealousy with regard to the balance of trade, and…

— David Hume

And as this is the obvious appearance of things, it must be admitted, till some hypothesis be discovered, which by penetrating deeper…

— David Hume

The best taxes are such as are levied upon consumptions, especially those of luxury; because such taxes are least felt by the…

— David Hume

I say then, that belief is nothing but a more vivid, lively, forcible, firm, steady conception of an object, than what the…

— David Hume

These arguments on each side (and many more might be produced) are so plausible, that I am apt to suspect, they may,…

— David Hume

There is an inconvenience which attends all abstruse reasoning. that it may silence, without convincing an antagonist, and requires the same intense…

— David Hume