--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The gazing populace receive greedily…" description: "\"The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder.\" — David Hume" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/david-hume-538_examination_the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-wit_2709480.jpg" --- # The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination… ![“The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder.” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/david-hume-538_examination_the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-wit_2709480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/david-hume-538_examination_the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-wit_2709480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/david-hume-538_examination_the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-wit_2709480.jpg) > “The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder.” [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. People readily accept sensational ideas without critical scrutiny. **In simple terms:** Crowds accept wonder without questioning. Key Takeaway Cultivate critical thinking. Themes skepticism media literacy wonder Mood analytical reflective Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - fact‑checking - educational campaigns - mindful consumption Key Concepts mass psychology information overload critical analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate sensational claims? - What habits foster skepticism? A Different Perspective Biases can be hard to overcome. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Examination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examination/) [Gazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazing/) [Gazing Populace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazing-populace-2796865/) [Greedily Examination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greedily-examination-2796867/) [Soothes Superstition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soothes-superstition-2796866/) [Superstition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstition/) [Superstition Promotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstition-promotes-2796868/) [Superstitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstitions/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [“(On belief in miracles) - "The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/on-belief-in-miracles-the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-without/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [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/) > [“I thought it was time I introduced you to one of my favorite things—star gazing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-grace/i-thought-it-was-time-i-introduced-you-to-one-of-my-favorite-things/) [Alexa Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-grace/) > [“There I am in my younger days, star gazing Painting picture perfect maps Of how my life and love would be Not counting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indigo-girls/there-i-am-in-my-younger-days-star-gazing-painting-picture-perfect/) [Indigo Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indigo-girls/) > [Constantly practice the habit of inwardly gazing upon God. You know that something inside your heart sees God. Even when you are compelled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/constantly-practice-the-habit-of-inwardly-gazing-upon-god-you-know/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [His hands slipped from his throat, and he crashed to the ground like a tree falling. "Oh, dear," said Pangborn, gazing at the fallen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/his-hands-slipped-from-his-throat-and-he-crashed-to-the-ground-like-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Truth be told, the inward gaze is something she's not too fond of. But there are secrets that lurk in the mind, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-bell/truth-be-told-the-inward-gaze-is-something-she-s-not-too-fond-of-but/) [Alden Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-bell/) > [I sit at my window gazing The world passes by, nods to me And is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/i-sit-at-my-window-gazing-the-world-passes-by-nods-to-me-and-is-gone/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [When the peacock has presented his back, the spectator will usually begin to walk around him to get a front view; but the peacock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/when-the-peacock-has-presented-his-back-the-spectator-will-usually/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Watch it, minx," he warned with a lift of his brow. "If you intend to taunt me for every foolish statement I've made in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/watch-it-minx-he-warned-with-a-lift-of-his-brow-if-you-intend-to/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) > [Lo! while we are gazing, in swifter haste Stream down the snows, till the air is white, As, myriads by myriads madly chased, They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/lo-while-we-are-gazing-in-swifter-haste-stream-down-the-snows-till/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [I love these pet names," she said, gazing soulfully up into his eyes, "Nitwit. Sap skull. Termagant. How they make my heart flutter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/i-love-these-pet-names-she-said-gazing-soulfully-up-into-his-eyes/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [ \[S\]he stood for some moments gazing at the sisters, with affection beaming in one eye, and calculation shining out of the other. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/s-he-stood-for-some-moments-gazing-at-the-sisters-with-affection/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) ## 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 Examination quotes > [“Remaining absolutely non-acquisitive (aparigrahi) amidst all possessions is the ultimate ‘test examination’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/remaining-absolutely-non-acquisitive-aparigrahi-amidst-all/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [The examining physician often hesitates to make the necessary examination because it involves soiling the finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-mayo/the-examining-physician-often-hesitates-to-make-the-necessary/) [William James Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-mayo/) > [The criterion of true beauty is, that it increases in examination; of false, that it lessens. There is something, therefore, in true beauty that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-grenville/the-criterion-of-true-beauty-is-that-it-increases-in-examination-of/) [George Grenville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-grenville/) > [On examinations: Das Wissen ist der Tad der Forschung. Knowledge is the death of research. Nernst's motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-nernst/on-examinations-das-wissen-ist-der-tad-der-forschung-knowledge-is-the/) [Walther Nernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-nernst/) > [EXams are there, at the paper u stare; the answer is nowhere, which makes u pull ur hair. The teachers make u glare, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/exams-are-there-at-the-paper-u-stare-the-answer-is-nowhere-which/) [Azgraybebly Joslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-joslan/) > [Creativity requires introspection, self-examination, and a willingness to take risks. Because of this, artists are perhaps more susceptible to self-doubt and despair than those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-maisel/creativity-requires-introspection-self-examination-and-a-willingness/) [Eric Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-maisel/) > [Wherever God erects a house of prayer the Devil always builds a chapel there; And 't will be found, upon examination, the latter has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wherever-god-erects-a-house-of-prayer-the-devil-always-builds-a/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [The story revolved around this universal identifiable fear that we must all have, at some point, when you commit yourself to being with another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-treadaway/the-story-revolved-around-this-universal-identifiable-fear-that-we/) [Harry Treadaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-treadaway/) > [But since the Modernists (as they are commonly and rightly called) employ a very clever artifice, namely, to present their doctrines without order and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-x/but-since-the-modernists-as-they-are-commonly-and-rightly-called/) [Pope Pius X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-x/) > [Even when I'm writing in character I'm normally still writing about things I know or things that have happened to me or using that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walker/even-when-i-m-writing-in-character-i-m-normally-still-writing-about/) [Karen Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walker/) > [After taking my B.A. degree in 1939 I remained at the University for a further year to take an advanced course in Biochemistry, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/after-taking-my-b-a-degree-in-1939-i-remained-at-the-university-for-a/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [The duty of the grand jury is to separate fact from fiction, after a full and impartial examination of all the evidence involved, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-p-mcculloch/the-duty-of-the-grand-jury-is-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-after-a/) [Robert P. 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Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) [Browse all 483 Examination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examination/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Hume" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-without-examination-whatever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Examination" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-without-examination-whatever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/david-hume-538_examination_the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-wit_2709480.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/david-hume-538_examination_the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-wit_2709480.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/david-hume-538_examination_the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-wit_2709480.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder.” — 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": "The gazing populace receive greedily, without...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-without-examination-whatever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-gazing-populace-receive-greedily-without-examination-whatever/#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 } } ] } ```