--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How could politics be a science, if laws…" description: "\"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 morals, if ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/david-hume-538_action_how-could-politics-be-a-science-if-laws_2611633.jpg" --- # How could politics be a science, if laws and forms of… ![“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 morals, if particular characters had no certain or determinate power to produce particular sentiments, and if these sentiments had no constant operation on…” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/david-hume-538_action_how-could-politics-be-a-science-if-laws_2611633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/david-hume-538_action_how-could-politics-be-a-science-if-laws_2611633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/david-hume-538_action_how-could-politics-be-a-science-if-laws_2611633.jpg) > “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 morals, if particular characters had no certain or determinate power to produce particular sentiments, and if these sentiments had no constant operation on actions?” [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Morality depends on consistent human nature; without uniform influence, moral foundations are unstable. **In simple terms:** Moral rules need stable human behavior. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of human nature in ethics. Themes morality human nature philosophy Mood inquisitive thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - legal theory - ethical debates - social policy Key Concepts uniformity sentiment action Questions to Reflect On - Can morality be universal? - What shapes our moral sentiments? A Different Perspective Assumes all societies share similar sentiments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Forms of government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forms-of-government/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundation Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation-morals-432544/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals/) [Morals Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals-particular-2034228/) [Operations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operations/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-science-1079171/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-laws-1048539/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Uniforms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniforms/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [There has been a controversy started of late, much better worth examination, concerning the general foundation of Morals; whether they be derived from Reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/there-has-been-a-controversy-started-of-late-much-better-worth/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) [Charles Carroll of Carrollton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/) > [Priestly was the first (unless it was Becarria) who taught my lips to pronounce this sacred truth--that the greatest happiness of the greatest number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/priestly-was-the-first-unless-it-was-becarria-who-taught-my-lips-to/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-greatest-happiness-of-the-greatest-number-is-the-foundation-of/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [“The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest-Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-creed-which-accepts-as-the-foundation-of-morals-utility-or-the/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The science of the laws is the slow growth of time and experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-science-of-the-laws-is-the-slow-growth-of-time-and-experience/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [I believe the universe is governed by the laws of science. 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