David Hume Quotes - Page 9

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Such a superiority do the pursuits of literature possess above every other occupation, that even he who attains but a mediocrity in them, merits the pre-eminence above those that excel the most in the common and vulgar professions.

David Hume

Mediocrity, Literature, Occupation

David Hume (1782). “The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution of 1688”, p.197

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All inferences from experience... are effects of custom, not of reasoning.

David Hume

Inference, Effects, Reasoning

"An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding". Book by David Hume, V: Skeptical Solution of these Doubts, Part I, 1739 - 1740.

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Every wise, just, and mild government, by rendering the condition of its subjects easy and secure, will always abound most in people, as well as in commodities and riches.

David Hume

Wise, Government, People

David Hume (1754). “ESSAYS AND TREATISES ON SEVERAL SUBJECTS.”, p.140

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Enthusiasm produces the most cruel disorders in human society; but its fury is like that of thunder and tempest, which exhaust themselves in a little time, and leave the air more calm and serene than before.

David Hume

Air, Littles, Enthusiasm

David Hume (1788). “Essays, moral, political, and literary.- v. 2. An inquiry concerning human understanding. A dissertation on the passions. An inquiry concerning the principles of morals. The natural history of religion”, p.72

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An established government has an infinite advantage, by that very circumstance of its being established--the bulk of mankind being governed by authority, not reason, and never attributing authority to anything that has not the recommendation of antiquity.

David Hume

Government, Infinite, Reason

David Hume, Knud Haakonssen (1994). “Hume: Political Essays”, p.221, Cambridge University Press

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And though the philosopher may live remote from business, the genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself throughout the whole society, and bestow a similar correctness on every art and calling.

David Hume

Art, Philosophy, Political

David Hume (1826). “The Philosophical Works: Including All the Essays, and Exhibiting the More Important Alterations and Corrections in the Successive Ed. Publ. by the Author”, p.9

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There is nothing, in itself, valuable or despicable, desirable or hateful, beautiful or deformed; but that these attributes arise from the particular constitution and fabric of human sentiment and affection.

David Hume

Beautiful, Science, Fabric

David Hume (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)”, p.675, Delphi Classics

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the senses alone are not implicitly to be depended on. We must correct their evidence by reason, and by considerations, derived from the nature of the medium, the distance of the object, and the disposition of the organ, in order to render them, within their sphere, the proper criteria of truth and falsehood.

David Hume

Distance, Order, Spheres

David Hume (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)”, p.1058, Delphi Classics

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...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that, according to the past experience of mankind, friendship is the chief joy of human life and moderation the only source of tranquillity and happiness.

David Hume

Past, Joy, Mind

David Hume, Peter Millican (2008). “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding”, p.102, Oxford University Press

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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.

David Hume

Vices, Morality, Virtue

David Hume, Geoffrey Sayre-McCord “Moral Philosophy”, Hackett Publishing

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Eloquence, when at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection; but addressing itself entirely to the fancy or the affections, captivates the willing hearers, and subdues their understanding. Happily, this pitch it seldom attains. But what a Tully or a Demosthenes could scarcely effect over a Roman or Athenian audience, every Capuchin, every itinerant or stationary teacher can perform over the generality of mankind, and in a higher degree, by touching such gross and vulgar passions.

David Hume

Teacher, Passion, Reflection

David Hume (2012). “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding”, p.127, tredition

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I shall venture to affirm, that there never was a popular religion, which represented the state of departed souls in such a light,as would render it eligible for human kind, that there should be such a state. These fine models of religion are the mere product of philosophy. For as death lies between the eye and the prospect of futurity, that event is so shocking to nature, that it must throw a gloom on all the regions which lie beyond it; and suggest to the generality of mankind the idea of Cerberus and Furies; devils, and torrents of fire and brimstone.

David Hume

Death, Lying, Philosophy

David Hume, John Charles Addison Gaskin (1998). “Dialogues and Natural History of Religion”, p.127, Oxford University Press, USA

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The rules of morality are not the conclusion of our reason.

David Hume

Pregnancy, Ethics, Morality

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Avarice, the spur of industry, is so obstinate a passion, and works its way through so many real dangers and difficulties, that it is not likely to be scared by an imaginary danger, which is so small, that it scarcely admits of calculation. Commerce, therefore, in my opinion, is apt to decay in absolute governments, not because it is there less secure, but because it is less honourable.

David Hume

Real, Passion, Government

'Essays' (1741-2) 'Of Civil Liberty'

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Every court of criminal justice must have the power of correcting the greatest and dangerous of all abuses of the forms of law - that of the protracted imprisonment of the accused, untried, perhaps not intended ever to be tried, it may be, not informed of the nature of the charge against him, or the name of the accuser.

David Hume

Law, Names, Justice

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Accuracy is, in every case, advantageous to beauty, and just reasoning to delicate sentiment. In vain would we exalt the one by depreciating the other.

David Hume

Sentimental, Vain, Cases

David Hume (2012). “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding”, p.4, Courier Corporation

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There is not to be found, in all history, any miracle attested by a sufficient number of men, of such unquestioned good sense, education and learning, as to secure us against all delusion in themselves.

David Hume

Learning, Men, Numbers

David Hume (1758). “Essays and Treatises on several subjects, etc. New edition”, p.347

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Tho' there be no such Thing as Chance in the World; our Ignorance of the real Ccause of any Event has the same Influence on the Understanding, and begets a like Species of Belief or Opinion.

David Hume

Real, Ignorance, Science

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Section VI (p. 37)

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It seems certain, that though a man, in a flush of humour, after intense reflection on the many contradictions and imperfections of human reason, may entirely renounce all belief and opinion, it is impossible for him to persevere in this total scepticism, or make it appear in his conduct for a few hours.

David Hume

Men, Reflection, Imperfection

David Hume, Peter Millican (2008). “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding”, p.153, Oxford University Press

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Human happiness seems to consist in three ingredients; action, pleasure and indolence. And though these ingredients ought to be mixed in different proportions, according to the disposition of the person, yet no one ingredient can be entirely wanting without destroying in some measure the relish of the whole composition.

David Hume

Happiness, Different, Three

David Hume (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)”, p.746, Delphi Classics

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To have recourse to the veracity of the supreme Being, in order to prove the veracity of our senses, is surely making a very unexpected circuit.

David Hume

Order, Atheism, Unexpected

David Hume (1758). “Essays and Treatises on several subjects, etc. New edition”, p.368

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..when, in my philosophical disquisitions, I deny a providence and a future state, I undermine not the foundations of society, but advance principles, which they themselves, upon their own topics, if they argue consistently, must allow to be solid and satisfactory.

David Hume

Philosophical, Atheism, Foundation

David Hume (1758). “Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects”, p.358

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The ages of greatest public spirit are not always eminent for private virtue.

David Hume

Age, Spirit, Virtue

David Hume (1870). “Essays, Literary, Moral, and Political”, p.20

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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.

David Hume

Perception, Different, Movement

David Hume, Thom Chittom (2004). “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: And Selections from a Treatise of Human Nature”, p.200, Barnes & Noble Publishing

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It forms a strong presumption against all supernatural and miraculous relations, that they are observed chiefly to abound among ignorant and barbarous nations; or if a civilized people has ever given admission to any of them, that people will be found to have received them from ignorant and barbarous ancestors.

David Hume

Strong, People, Ignorant

David Hume (1793). “Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects”, p.130

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Born: May 7, 1711
Died: August 25, 1776
Occupation: Philosopher
Cite this Page: Citation

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