--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where am I, or what? From what causes do…" description: "\"“Where am I, or what? From what causes do I derive my existence, and to what condition shall I return? ... I am confounded with all these questions, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/david-hume-538_backgammon_where-am-i-or-what-from-what-causes-do-i_1477535.jpg" --- # Where am I, or what? From what causes do I derive my… ![“Where am I, or what? From what causes do I derive my existence, and to what condition shall I return? ... I am confounded with all these questions, and begin to fancy myself in the most deplorable condition imaginable, environed with the deepest darkness, and utterly deprived of the use of every…” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/david-hume-538_backgammon_where-am-i-or-what-from-what-causes-do-i_1477535.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/david-hume-538_backgammon_where-am-i-or-what-from-what-causes-do-i_1477535.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/david-hume-538_backgammon_where-am-i-or-what-from-what-causes-do-i_1477535.jpg) > ““Where am I, or what? From what causes do I derive my existence, and to what condition shall I return? ... I am confounded with all these questions, and begin to fancy myself in the most deplorable condition imaginable, environed with the deepest darkness, and utterly deprived of the use of every member and faculty. Most fortunately it happens, that since Reason is incapable of dispelling these clouds, Nature herself suffices to that purpose, and cures me of this philosophical melancholy and delirium, either by relaxing this bent of mind, or by some avocation, and lively impression of my senses, which obliterate all these chimeras. I dine, I play a game of backgammon, I converse, and am merry with my friends. And when, after three or four hours' amusement, I would return to these speculations, they appear so cold, and strained, and ridiculous, that I cannot find in my heart to enter into them any farther.”” [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. The mind can be overwhelmed by existential doubts, but engaging the senses and social activity dispels philosophical melancholy. **In simple terms:** Sensory and social engagement eases existential anxiety. Key Takeaway Seek distraction and connection when overwhelmed. Themes philosophy mental health distraction Mood reflective calm Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - Studying philosophy - playing games - talking with friends - taking walks Key Concepts Existential doubt sensory immersion social interaction Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance contemplation with everyday life? - What activities restore your sense of grounding? A Different Perspective Distraction may only mask underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backgammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgammon/) [Cures Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cures-philosophical-5376859/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Melancholy Delirium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy-delirium-5376861/) [Mind Avocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-avocation-5376860/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Philosophical Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical-melancholy-5376858/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [“I am quite glad you are at home; for these hurries and forebodings by which I have been surrounded all day long, have made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-am-quite-glad-you-are-at-home-for-these-hurries-and-forebodings-by/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I do really well in the traditional board games: Backgammon, Checkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-clinton/i-do-really-well-in-the-traditional-board-games-backgammon-checkers/) [Chelsea Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-clinton/) > [I like Backgammon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fitzpatrick/i-like-backgammon/) [Ryan Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fitzpatrick/) > [All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-backgammon-with-a-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The only athletic sport I ever mastered was backgammon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/the-only-athletic-sport-i-ever-mastered-was-backgammon/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [ He remembered poor Julian \[actually F. Scott Fitzgerald\] and his romantic awe of them and how he had started a story once that began,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-remembered-poor-julian-actually-f-scott-fitzgerald-and-his/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The only things I'm competitive in are backgammon and poker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hudson/the-only-things-i-m-competitive-in-are-backgammon-and-poker/) [Kate Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hudson/) > [All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-backgammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“It was at this time that backgammon was invented and began to be popular. It is a kind of paradigm of how wealth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-masudi/it-was-at-this-time-that-backgammon-was-invented-and-began-to-be/) [Al Masudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-masudi/) > [Even if I play backgammon with my coach, I hate to lose. I won't talk to him for, like, an hour. So imagine how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-ivanovic/even-if-i-play-backgammon-with-my-coach-i-hate-to-lose-i-won-t-talk/) [Ana Ivanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-ivanovic/) > [I love all board games, actually, apart from backgammon. I can never remember the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hince/i-love-all-board-games-actually-apart-from-backgammon-i-can-never/) [Jamie Hince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hince/) > [“I thought you seemed like someone who might enjoy backgammon," said the kid, gravely mistaken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/i-thought-you-seemed-like-someone-who-might-enjoy-backgammon-said-the/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Lars Trabolt from Denmark was the 2008 World Backgammon Champion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lowe/lars-trabolt-from-denmark-was-the-2008-world-backgammon-champion/) [Charlotte Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lowe/) > [Chess is a great training ground for poker players because it's a math-based game, much like backgammon is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-negreanu/chess-is-a-great-training-ground-for-poker-players-because-it-s-a/) [Daniel Negreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-negreanu/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## 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 Backgammon quotes > [Chess is a great training ground for poker players because it's a math-based game, much like backgammon is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-negreanu/chess-is-a-great-training-ground-for-poker-players-because-it-s-a/) [Daniel Negreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-negreanu/) > [“Lars Trabolt from Denmark was the 2008 World Backgammon Champion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lowe/lars-trabolt-from-denmark-was-the-2008-world-backgammon-champion/) [Charlotte Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lowe/) > [“I thought you seemed like someone who might enjoy backgammon," said the kid, gravely mistaken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/i-thought-you-seemed-like-someone-who-might-enjoy-backgammon-said-the/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [I love all board games, actually, apart from backgammon. I can never remember the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hince/i-love-all-board-games-actually-apart-from-backgammon-i-can-never/) [Jamie Hince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hince/) > [Even if I play backgammon with my coach, I hate to lose. I won't talk to him for, like, an hour. So imagine how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-ivanovic/even-if-i-play-backgammon-with-my-coach-i-hate-to-lose-i-won-t-talk/) [Ana Ivanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-ivanovic/) > [“It was at this time that backgammon was invented and began to be popular. It is a kind of paradigm of how wealth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-masudi/it-was-at-this-time-that-backgammon-was-invented-and-began-to-be/) [Al Masudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-masudi/) > [All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-backgammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The only things I'm competitive in are backgammon and poker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hudson/the-only-things-i-m-competitive-in-are-backgammon-and-poker/) [Kate Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hudson/) > [ He remembered poor Julian \[actually F. Scott Fitzgerald\] and his romantic awe of them and how he had started a story once that began,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-remembered-poor-julian-actually-f-scott-fitzgerald-and-his/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The only athletic sport I ever mastered was backgammon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/the-only-athletic-sport-i-ever-mastered-was-backgammon/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-backgammon-with-a-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I like Backgammon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fitzpatrick/i-like-backgammon/) [Ryan Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fitzpatrick/) > [I do really well in the traditional board games: Backgammon, Checkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-clinton/i-do-really-well-in-the-traditional-board-games-backgammon-checkers/) [Chelsea Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-clinton/) > [“I am quite glad you are at home; for these hurries and forebodings by which I have been surrounded all day long, have made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-am-quite-glad-you-are-at-home-for-these-hurries-and-forebodings-by/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) [Browse all 15 Backgammon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgammon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Where am I, or what? 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