All David Hume Quotes
- ... The idea of God, as meaning an infinitely intelligent, wise and good Being, arises from reflecting on the operations of our own mind, and… Agnosticism
- To have recourse to the veracity of the supreme Being, in order to prove the veracity of our senses, is surely making a very unexpected… Agnosticism
- ... superstitions, which, being unable to defend themselves on fair ground, raise these intangling brambles to cover and protect their weakness. Chased from the open… Agnosticism
- And whoever is moved by Faith to assent to it, is conscious of a continued miracle in his own person, which subverts all the principles… Agnosticism
- ..when, in my philosophical disquisitions, I deny a providence and a future state, I undermine not the foundations of society, but advance principles, which they… Advance
- The religious hypothesis, therefore, must be considered only as a particular method of accounting for the visible phenomena of the universe: but no just reasoner… Accounting
- But to proceed in this reconciling project with regard to the question of liberty and necessity; the most contentious question of metaphysics, the most contentious… Contentious
- I do not think a philosopher who would apply himself so earnestly to the explaining the ultimate principles of the soul, would show himself a… Apply
- But would we know, whether the pretended prophet had really attained a just sentiment of morals? Let us attend to his narration; and we shall… Action
- And indeed nothing but the most determined scepticism, along with a great degree of indolence, can justify this aversion to metaphysics. For if truth be… Abstruse
- And what is the greatest number? Number one. Greatest
- Everything in the world is purchased by labor. Inspirational
- Character is the result of a system of stereotyped principals. Character
- Be a philosopher but, amid all your philosophy be still a man. All
- Nothing appears more surprising to those, who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the easiness with which the many are governed by the… Affair
- When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken. Arrogant
- It is certain that the easy and obvious philosophy will always, with the generality of mankind, have preference above the accurate. Accurate
- Nothing is more dangerous to reason than the flights of the imagination and nothing has been the occasion of more mistakes among philosophers. Among
- A too great disproportion among the citizens weakens any state. Every person, if possible, ought to enjoy the fruits of his labour, in a full… Add
- It forms a strong presumption against all supernatural and miraculous relations, that they are observed chiefly to abound among ignorant and barbarous nations; or if… Abound
- The most lively thought is still inferior to the dullest sensation. Dullest
- And though the philosopher may live remote from business, the genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself throughout the whole… Art
- How could politics be a science, if laws and forms of government had not a uniform influence upon society? Where would be the foundation of… Action
- It seems then, say I, that you leave politics entirely out of the question, and never suppose, that a wise magistrate can justly be jealous… Certain
- In ancient times, bodily strength and dexterity, being of greater use and importance in war, was also much more esteemed and valued, than at present.… Ancient