Action Quote by David Hume
“If morality had naturally no influence on human passions and actions, it were in vain to take such pains to inculcate it; and nothing would be more fruitless than that multitude of rules and precepts with which all moralists abound.”
About This Quote
If morality doesn't stem from human nature, attempts to teach it are futile; countless rules become meaningless without innate moral influence.
In simple terms: Morality must be natural to matter.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate innate moral sense.
Themes
philosophy
ethics
human nature
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- education
- legal systems
- social norms
- personal conduct
Key Concepts
moral psychology
natural law
cultural relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- Is morality learned or innate?
- How do societies enforce ethics?
A Different Perspective
Moral systems can still guide behavior even if not innate.
![“[T]he moralists of Europe [have] pretended that beasts have no rights... a doctrine revolting/gross/barbarous... on which a native of the Asiatic uplands could not look without righteous horror...” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/178/arthur-schopenhauer-226_animal_t-he-moralists-of-europe-have-pretended_646569.jpg)
