--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To invent without scruple a new principle…" description: "\"To invent without scruple a new principle to every new phenomenon, instead of adapting it to the old; to overload our hypothesis with a variety of this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/david-hume-538_adapting_to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principl_2045283.jpg" --- # To invent without scruple a new principle to every new… ![“To invent without scruple a new principle to every new phenomenon, instead of adapting it to the old; to overload our hypothesis with a variety of this kind, are certain proofs that none of these principles is the just one, and that we only desire, by a number of falsehoods, to cover our ignorance…” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/david-hume-538_adapting_to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principl_2045283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/david-hume-538_adapting_to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principl_2045283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/david-hume-538_adapting_to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principl_2045283.jpg) > “To invent without scruple a new principle to every new phenomenon, instead of adapting it to the old; to overload our hypothesis with a variety of this kind, are certain proofs that none of these principles is the just one, and that we only desire, by a number of falsehoods, to cover our ignorance of the truth.” [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. Creating new principles without grounding them in existing knowledge leads to falsehoods that mask ignorance rather than reveal truth. **In simple terms:** Unfounded principles hide ignorance. Key Takeaway Base new ideas on solid evidence. Themes knowledge philosophy methodology Mood skeptical inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - research design - theoretical development - education curriculum Key Concepts epistemology scientific method critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can we test new principles? - What role does skepticism play in discovery? A Different Perspective New principles must be testable and coherent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Falsehoods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehoods/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Phenomenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenon/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scruples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scruples/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/) ## Related quotes > [For myself, I long ago decided that I would rather know the truth than be happy in ignorance. If I can not have both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-myself-i-long-ago-decided-that-i-would-rather-know-the-truth-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By ignorance the truth is known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-suso/by-ignorance-the-truth-is-known/) [Henry Suso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-suso/) > [In his ignorance of the whole truth, each person maintains his own arrogant point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/in-his-ignorance-of-the-whole-truth-each-person-maintains-his-own/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ignorance may find a truth on its doorstep that erudition vainly seeks in the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-iles/ignorance-may-find-a-truth-on-its-doorstep-that-erudition-vainly/) [George Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-iles/) > [Ultimately, the law will collapse under its own weight. Until then, we have to start building a better health care system in its place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/ultimately-the-law-will-collapse-under-its-own-weight-until-then-we/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [If there be a principle that ought not to be questioned within the United States, it is that every man has a right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/if-there-be-a-principle-that-ought-not-to-be-questioned-within-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Let a man proclaim a new principle. Public sentiment will surely be on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-reed/let-a-man-proclaim-a-new-principle-public-sentiment-will-surely-be-on/) [Thomas Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-reed/) > [A new principle cannot be put into effect without bringing with it new mistakes. But we may, however, be convinced that the laws of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-key/a-new-principle-cannot-be-put-into-effect-without-bringing-with-it/) [Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/) > [Reengineering posits a radical new principle: that the design of work must be based not on hierarchical management and the specialization of labor but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martin-hammer/reengineering-posits-a-radical-new-principle-that-the-design-of-work/) [Michael Martin Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martin-hammer/) > [A new principle is an inexhaustible source of new views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-new-principle-is-an-inexhaustible-source-of-new-views/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The conduct of a man, who studies philosophy in this careless manner, is more truly sceptical than that of any one, who feeling inhimself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-conduct-of-a-man-who-studies-philosophy-in-this-careless-manner/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Inculcating the various competing - competing, note - falsehoods of the major faiths into small children is a form of child abuse, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/inculcating-the-various-competing-competing-note-falsehoods-of-the/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [Tangible language, which often tells more falsehoods than truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tangible-language-which-often-tells-more-falsehoods-than-truths/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## 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 Adapting quotes > [For a struggling filmmaker running low on ideas, public domain is all we have for adapting books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/for-a-struggling-filmmaker-running-low-on-ideas-public-domain-is-all/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [If I can do concert recitals, adapting the repertoire to my needs, then no problem, that's good enough. But with operas, unless the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-carreras/if-i-can-do-concert-recitals-adapting-the-repertoire-to-my-needs-then/) [Jose Carreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-carreras/) > [Firmino is a player who is really good at adapting to different positions. He is a No. 9, but he helps a lot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabinho/firmino-is-a-player-who-is-really-good-at-adapting-to-different/) [Fabinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabinho/) > [Martial arts is not about picking your fights and picking how things go; it's about adapting to the how things are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-nelson/martial-arts-is-not-about-picking-your-fights-and-picking-how-things/) [Gunnar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-nelson/) > [I'm not in the business of adapting things that are popular for the sake of just getting it on the screen. I think there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-m-not-in-the-business-of-adapting-things-that-are-popular-for-the/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [I am like the fish in the aquarium, thinking in a different language, adapting to a life that’s not my natural habitat. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-am-like-the-fish-in-the-aquarium-thinking-in-a-different-language/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I'm always a big advocate for adapting to your new team, your new country and your new team-mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-m-always-a-big-advocate-for-adapting-to-your-new-team-your-new/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [Cinema reflects culture and there is no harm in adapting technology, but not at the cost of losing your originality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/cinema-reflects-culture-and-there-is-no-harm-in-adapting-technology/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [The fact that I made a special movie with an old-fashioned style - even if it's a mix between with modern and old-fashioned things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/the-fact-that-i-made-a-special-movie-with-an-old-fashioned-style-even/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I believe in having a few pupils at one time as it requires a constant alert observation of each individual in order to establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-believe-in-having-a-few-pupils-at-one-time-as-it-requires-a/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The brain is constantly adapting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-brain-is-constantly-adapting/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [One of the most difficult things for people who have been successful in sports is adapting to the daily world where you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-people-who-have-been-successful/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [“(T)his is precisely the importance of the world-view described in the Book of Changes: there is no situation without a way out. All situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-and-hellmut-wilhelm/t-his-is-precisely-the-importance-of-the-world-view-described-in-the/) Richard and Hellmut Wilhelm > [Man is a shrewd inventor, and is ever taking the hint of a new machine from his own structure, adapting some secret of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-a-shrewd-inventor-and-is-ever-taking-the-hint-of-a-new-machine/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Sport is not about being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport as about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/sport-is-not-about-being-wrapped-up-in-cotton-wool-sport-as-about/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) Browse all 251 Adapting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To invent without scruple a new principle to every new phenomenon, instead of adapting it to the old; to overload our hypothesis with a variety of this kind, are certain proofs that none of these principles is the just one, and that we only desire, by a number of falsehoods, to cover our ignorance of the truth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Hume" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principle-to-every-new-phenomenon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adapting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principle-to-every-new-phenomenon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/david-hume-538_adapting_to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principl_2045283.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/david-hume-538_adapting_to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principl_2045283.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/david-hume-538_adapting_to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principl_2045283.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To invent without scruple a new principle to every new phenomenon, instead of adapting it to the old; 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": "To invent without scruple a new...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principle-to-every-new-phenomenon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/to-invent-without-scruple-a-new-principle-to-every-new-phenomenon/#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 } } ] } ```