Assurance Quote by David Hume
“In our reasonings concerning matter of fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance, from the highest certainty to the lowest species of moral evidence. A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence.”
About This Quote
Source Book: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, 1748
Belief should match the strength of supporting evidence, ranging from certainty to weak moral evidence.
In simple terms: Match belief to evidence.
Key Takeaway
Align confidence with proof.
Themes
epistemology
reason
belief
evidence
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- legal judgments
- personal decisions
- policy making
Key Concepts
probabilistic reasoning
moral epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess evidence strength?
- When should you doubt strong evidence?
A Different Perspective
Evidence can be ambiguous, making proportional belief difficult.
