David Hume

David Hume

Philosopher, Historian

David Hume was a Scottish philosopher known for his influential ideas on empiricism, skepticism, and human nature, particularly in 'A Treatise of Human Nature.'

Men Philosophical Passion Philosophy Science Religious
Born
May 7, 1711
Died
August 25, 1776
Quotes
383
Rank
#114

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David Hume quotes (page 10 of 20)

383 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"When anyone tells me that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself whether it be more probable that this person should either deceive or be deceived or that the fact which he relates should really have happened. I weigh the one miracle against the other and according to the superiority which I discover, I pronounce my decision. Always I reject the greater miracle. If the falsehood of his testimony would be more miraculous than the event which he relates, then and not till then, can he pretend to command my belief or opinion."

Men Decision Miracle
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"Jealousy is a painful passion; yet without some share of it, the agreeable affection of love has difficulty to subsist in its full force and violence."

Jealousy Passion Violence
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"I may venture to affirm the rest of mankind, that they are nothing but a bundle or collection of different perceptions, which succeed each other with an inconceivable rapidity, and are in a perpetual flux and movement."

Perception Different Movement
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"Does a man of sense run after every silly tale of hobgoblins or fairies, and canvass particularly the evidence? I never knew anyone, that examined and deliberated about nonsense who did not believe it before the end of his enquiries."

Running Believe Silly
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"A too great disproportion among the citizens weakens any state. Every person, if possible, ought to enjoy the fruits of his labour, in a full possession of all the necessities, and many of the conveniences of life. No one can doubt, but such an equality is most suitable to human nature, and diminishes much less from the happiness of the rich than it adds to that of the poor."

Political Doubt Add
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"The great end of all human industry is the attainment of happiness. For this were arts invented, sciences cultivated, laws ordained, and societies modeled, by the most profound wisdom of patriots and legislators. Even the lonely savage, who lies exposed to the inclemency of the elements and the fury of wild beasts, forgets not, for a moment, this grand object of his being."

Happiness Lonely Art
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"Luxury, or a refinement on the pleasures and conveniences of life, had long been supposed the source of every corruption in government, and the immediate cause of faction, sedition, civil wars, and the total loss of liberty. It was, therefore, universally regarded as a vice, and was an object of declamation to all satyrists, and severe moralists."

War Loss Luxury
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"It is not contrary to reason to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger."

Philosophical World Reason
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"Anticipation of pleasure is, in itself, a very considerable pleasure."

Anticipation Pleasure
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"Truth is disputable; not taste: what exists in the nature of things is the standard of our judgement; what each man feels within himself is the standard of sentiment. Propositions in geometry may be proved, systems in physics may be controverted; but the harmony of verse, the tenderness of passion, the brilliancy of wit, must give immediate pleasure. No man reasons concerning another's beauty; but frequently concerning the justice or injustice of his actions."

Passion Men Giving
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"In our reasonings concerning matter of fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance, from the highest certainty to the lowest species of moral evidence. A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence."

Wise Men Facts
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder."

Gazing Examination Superstitions
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"It is harder to avoid censure than to gain applause; for this may be done by one great or wise action in an age. But to escape censure a man must pass his whole life without saying or doing one ill or foolish thing"

Wise Men Age
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"No human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any such system of religion"

Miracle Foundation Force
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"The most perfect philosophy of the natural kind only staves off our ignorance a little longer: as perhaps the most perfect philosophy of the moral or metaphysical kind serves only to discover larger portions of it. Thus the observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours to elude or avoid it."

Philosophy Ignorance Perfect
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David Hume Philosopher, Historian
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"The end of all moral speculations is to teach us our duty; and, by proper representations of the deformity of vice and beauty of virtue, beget correspondent habits, and engage us to avoid the one, and embrace the other."

Vices Morality Virtue
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"Custom, then, is the great guide of human life. It is that principle alone, which renders our experience useful to us, and makes us expect, for the future, a similar train of events with those which have appeared in the past."

Past Experience Principles
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