Philosophy Quotes by David Hume

“metaphysics by showing that these theories are not just false, but unintelligible.”

— David Hume

“Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still a man.”

— David Hume

Be a philosopher but, amid all your philosophy be still a man.

— David Hume

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.

— David Hume

A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion

— David Hume

Philosophy would render us entirely Pyrrhonian, were not nature too strong for it.

— David Hume

“Thomas Hobbes's politics are fitted only to promote tyranny, and his ethics to encourage licentiousness.”

— David Hume

To philosopher and historian the madness and imbecile wickedness of mankind ought to appear ordinary events.

— David Hume

“study of human nature was in a sorry state. While he had reservations about the ancient philosophers for depending ‘more on Invention…

— David Hume

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

— David Hume

The chief benefit, which results from philosophy, arises in an indirect manner, and proceeds more from its secret, insensible influence, than from…

— David Hume

The stability of modern governments above the ancient, and the accuracy of modern philosophy, have improved, and probably will still improve, by…

— David Hume

Do you come to a philosopher as to a cunning man, to learn something by magic or witchcraft, beyond what can be…

— David Hume

But to proceed in this reconciling project with regard to the question of liberty and necessity; the most contentious question of metaphysics,…

— David Hume

Nothing is more dangerous to reason than the flights of the imagination and nothing has been the occasion of more mistakes among…

— David Hume

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

— 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

The most perfect philosophy of the natural kind only staves off our ignorance a little longer: as perhaps the most perfect philosophy…

— David Hume

The conduct of a man, who studies philosophy in this careless manner, is more truly sceptical than that of any one, who…

— David Hume

“At present they [philosophers] seem to be in a very lamentable condition, and such as the poets have given us but a…

— David Hume

“Abstruse thought and profound researches I prohibit, and will severely punish, by the pensive melancholy which they introduce, by the endless uncertainty…

— David Hume

Accurate and just reasoning is the only catholic remedy, fitted for all persons and all dispositions; and is alone able to subvert…

— David Hume

Reasoning from the common course of nature, and without supposing any new interposition of the Supreme Cause, which ought always to be…

— David Hume

“When we run over libraries, persuaded of these principles, what havoc must we make? If we take in our hand any volume…

— David Hume

A man who has cured himself of all ridiculous prepossessions, and is fully, sincerely, and steadily convinced, from experience as well as…

— David Hume

The whole is a riddle, an enigma, an inexplicable mystery. Doubt, uncertainty, suspence of judgment appear the only result of ourmost accurate…

— David Hume

Let us become thoroughly sensible of the weakness, blindness, and narrow limits of human reason: Let us duly consider its uncertainty and…

— David Hume

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

— David Hume

In all determinations of morality, this circumstance of public utility is ever principally in view; and wherever disputes arise, either in philosophy…

— David Hume

“There is no method of reasoning more common, and yet none more blameable, than, in philosophical disputes, to endeavour the refutation of…

— David Hume

“Hume is indeed sceptical about the possibility of metaphysical insights that go deeper than science can, he is not at all sceptical…

— David Hume

I shall venture to affirm, that there never was a popular religion, which represented the state of departed souls in such a…

— David Hume

“I am first affrighted and confounded with that forelorn solitude, in which I am plac'd in my philosophy, and fancy myself some…

— David Hume

“There are instances, indeed, wherein men shew a vanity in resembling a great man in his countenance, shape, air, or other minute…

— David Hume

“I am first affrighted and confounded with that forelorn solitude, in which I am plac'd in my philosophy, and fancy myself some…

— David Hume

“To be a philosophical Sceptic is the first and most essential step towards being a sound, believing Christian.”

— David Hume

Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.

— David Hume

“[A] planet, wholly inhabited by spiders, (which is very possible)”

— David Hume

The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the…

— David Hume

To be a philosophical sceptic is, in a man of letters, the first and most essential to being a sound, believing Christian.

— David Hume