Action Quote by David Hume
“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 soon find, that he bestows praise on such instances of treachery, inhumanity, cruelty, revenge, bigotry, as are utterly incompatible with civilized society. No steady rule of right seems there to be attended to; and every action is blamed or praised, so far only as it is beneficial or hurtful to the true believers.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, 1748
The quote critiques a false prophet who praises immoral acts, showing that his moral judgments are based on personal bias rather than universal principles.
In simple terms: A fake moral leader praises evil, lacking true ethical standards.
Key Takeaway
Question the integrity of those who claim moral authority.
Themes
morality
hypocrisy
authority
ethics
Mood
skeptical
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- religious preaching
- media commentary
- legal judgments
Key Concepts
subjectivism
relativism
moral psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should we use to evaluate moral authority?
- How can societies protect themselves from such deceptive leaders?
A Different Perspective
The analysis assumes the prophet’s motives are purely self‑serving, ignoring possible complex motivations.
![“As to the fragments of morality that are irregularly and thinly scattered in those books [the Bible], they make no part of this pretended thing, revealed religion. They are the natural dictates of conscience, and the bonds by which society is held together, and without which it cannot exist ; and…” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fa6/thomas-paine-267_bible_as-to-the-fragments-of-morality-that-are_964723.jpg)
