--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If morality had naturally no influence on…" description: "\"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 fru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/david-hume-538_action_if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-o_2659788.jpg" --- # If morality had naturally no influence on human passions… ![“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.” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/david-hume-538_action_if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-o_2659788.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/david-hume-538_action_if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-o_2659788.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/david-hume-538_action_if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-o_2659788.jpg) > “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.” [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. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Moralist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moralist/) [Moralists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moralists/) [Moralists Abound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moralists-abound-2417650/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Naturally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-naturally-2417648/) [Multitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitudes/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Precepts Moralists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precepts-moralists-2417649/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Cynics are all moralists, and merciless too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/cynics-are-all-moralists-and-merciless-too/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [I guess I am nostalgic for a time - the nineteenth century and early twentieth - when writers were, to use Stefan Collini's phrase,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/i-guess-i-am-nostalgic-for-a-time-the-nineteenth-century-and-early/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [In spite of what moralists say, the, animals are scarcely less wicked or less unhappy than we are ourselves. The arrogance of the strong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-cuvier/in-spite-of-what-moralists-say-the-animals-are-scarcely-less-wicked/) [Georges Cuvier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-cuvier/) > [Compared with that of Taoists and Far Eastern Buddhists, the Christian attitude toward Nature has been curiously insensitive and often downright domineering and violent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/compared-with-that-of-taoists-and-far-eastern-buddhists-the-christian/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [ \[T\]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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/t-he-moralists-of-europe-have-pretended-that-beasts-have-no-rights-a/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Moralists love to discourse on the hollowness of success; about the hollowness of failure they are silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/moralists-love-to-discourse-on-the-hollowness-of-success-about-the/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I shall not fear to say that the doctrine of self-interest rightly understood seems to me of all the philosophic theories the most appropriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-shall-not-fear-to-say-that-the-doctrine-of-self-interest-rightly/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [When some English moralists write about the importance of having character, they appear to mean only the importance of having a dull character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-some-english-moralists-write-about-the-importance-of-having/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We can safely say, therefore, that whereas some moralists may find it possible to make a distinction between two spheres and reigns-one of flesh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/we-can-safely-say-therefore-that-whereas-some-moralists-may-find-it/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Many fledgling moralists in those days were going about our town proclaiming there was nothing to be done about it and we should bow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/many-fledgling-moralists-in-those-days-were-going-about-our-town/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [We are perpetually moralists, but we are geometricians only by chance. Our intercourse with intellectual nature is necessary; our speculations upon matter are voluntary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-are-perpetually-moralists-but-we-are-geometricians-only-by-chance/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [For over two thousand years it has been the custom among earnest moralists to decry happiness as something degraded and unworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/for-over-two-thousand-years-it-has-been-the-custom-among-earnest/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If it is the great delusion of moralists to suppose that all previous ages were less sinful than their own, then it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/if-it-is-the-great-delusion-of-moralists-to-suppose-that-all-previous/) [Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/) > [The modern moralists extol ... the cult of practical activity in defiance of the disinterested life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-benda/the-modern-moralists-extol-the-cult-of-practical-activity-in-defiance/) [Julien Benda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-benda/) ## More by David Hume > [“Beauty in things exists in the mind that contemplates them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/beauty-in-things-exists-in-the-mind-that-contemplates-them/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“It is impossible for us to think of any thing, which we have not antecedently felt, either by our external or internal senses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/it-is-impossible-for-us-to-think-of-any-thing-which-we-have-not/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [All morality depends upon our sentiments; and when any action or quality of the mind pleases us after a certain manner we say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/all-morality-depends-upon-our-sentiments-and-when-any-action-or/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [And indeed nothing but the most determined scepticism, along with a great degree of indolence, can justify this aversion to metaphysics. For if truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/and-indeed-nothing-but-the-most-determined-scepticism-along-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/virtue-is-attended-by-more-peace-of-mind-than-vice-and-meets-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/that-the-sun-will-not-rise-tomorrow-is-no-less-intelligible-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [We may conclude, therefore, that, in order to establish laws for the regulation of property, we must be acquainted with the nature and situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/we-may-conclude-therefore-that-in-order-to-establish-laws-for-the/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [The observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-observation-of-human-blindness-and-weakness-is-the-result-of-all/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [The religious hypothesis, therefore, must be considered only as a particular method of accounting for the visible phenomena of the universe: but no just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-religious-hypothesis-therefore-must-be-considered-only-as-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Manufacturers...gradually shift their places, leaving those countries and provinces which they have already enriched, and flying to others, whether they are allured by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/manufacturers-gradually-shift-their-places-leaving-those-countries/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [We may observe that, in displaying the praises of any humane, beneficent man, there is one circumstance which never fails to be amply insisted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/we-may-observe-that-in-displaying-the-praises-of-any-humane/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“The most perfect happiness, surely, must arise from the contemplation of the most perfect object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-most-perfect-happiness-surely-must-arise-from-the-contemplation/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“They all make up new species of crime and bring unhappiness in their train. When I hear a man is religious , I conclude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/they-all-make-up-new-species-of-crime-and-bring-unhappiness-in-their/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [There is not to be found, in all history, any miracle attested by a sufficient number of men, of such unquestioned good sense, education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/there-is-not-to-be-found-in-all-history-any-miracle-attested-by-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“But though there be naturally a wide difference in point of delicacy between one person and another, nothing tends further to encrease and improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/but-though-there-be-naturally-a-wide-difference-in-point-of-delicacy/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) [Explore all 487 David Hume quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Hume" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-on-human-passions-and-actions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-on-human-passions-and-actions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/david-hume-538_action_if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-o_2659788.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/david-hume-538_action_if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-o_2659788.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/david-hume-538_action_if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-o_2659788.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If morality had naturally no influence on human passions and actions, it were in vain to take such pains to…” — David Hume", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Hume", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If morality had naturally no influence...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-on-human-passions-and-actions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/if-morality-had-naturally-no-influence-on-human-passions-and-actions/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```