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David Hume

David Hume Quotes

Philosopher

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Famous David Hume Quotes

“A man who has cured himself of all ridiculous prepossessions, and is fully, sincerely, and steadily convinced, from experience as well as philosophy, that the difference of fortune makes less difference in happiness than is vulgarly imagined; such a one does not measure out degrees of esteem according to the rent-rolls of his acquaintance. He may, indeed, externally pay a superior deference to the great lord above the vassal; because riches are the most convenient, being the most fixed and determinate, source of distinction. But his internal sentiments are more regulated by the personal characters of men, than by the accidental and capricious favours of fortune.”

PhilosophyCharacterHappinessWealthVirtue
Book:An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
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“Riches are valuable at all times, and to all men, because they always purchase pleasures such as men are accustomed to and desire; nor can anything restrain or regulate the love of money but a sense of honor and virtue, which, if it be not nearly equal at all times, will naturally abound most in ages of knowledge and refinement.”

IfsMenAgeDesirePleasureVirtueHonorEqualValuableRichesAll TimeAccustomedRefinementLove Of Money
Book:Essays and treatises on several subjects in two volumes: Essays, moral, political, and literacy
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“Vanity is so closely allied to virtue, and to love the fame of laudable actions approaches so near the love of laudable actions for their own sake, that these passions are more capable of mixture than any other kinds of affection; and it is almost impossible to have the latter without some degree of the former.”

KindActionPassionVirtueImpossibleFameDegreesApproachCapableSakeAffectionFormerVanityLatterMixtures
Book:Essays Moral, Political, Literary: Revision of Great Book
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“Where is the reward of virtue? and what recompense has nature provided for such important sacrifices as those of life and fortune, which we must often make to it? O sons of earth! Are ye ignorant of the value of this celestial mistress? And do ye meanly inquire for her portion, when ye observe her genuine beauty?”

ImportantEarthValuesVirtueSacrificeSonFortuneRewardsGenuineIgnorantPortionsMistressCelestialRecompense
Book:Selected essays
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“Nothing can be more real, or concern us more, than our own sentiments of pleasure and uneasiness; and if these be favourable to virtue and unfavourable to vice, no more can be requisite to the regulation of our conduct and behavior.”

IfsRealPleasureVirtueBehaviorConcernPhilosophicalVicesSentimentsRegulationUneasiness
Book:A Treatise on Human Nature: Being an Attempt to Introduce the Experimental Method of Reasoning Into Moral Subjects; and Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
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“There surely is a being who presides over the universe; and who, with infinite wisdom and power, has reduced the jarring elementsinto just order and proportion. Let speculative reasoners dispute, how far this beneficent being extends his care, and whether he prolongs our existence beyond the grave, in order to bestow on virtue its just reward, and render it fully triumphant.”

GodCareOrderUniverseExistenceVirtueInfiniteRewardsGravesProportionDisputesTriumphant
Book:Selected essays
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“Justice is a moral virtue, merely because it has that tendency to the good of mankind, and indeed is nothing but an artificial invention to that purpose. The same may be said of allegiance, of the laws of nations, of modesty, and of good manners. All these are mere human contrivances for the interest of society.”

HumansMaySaidLawPurposeNationsInterestJusticeMoralVirtueSocietyMankindMereInventionTendenciesMannersGood ManArtificialModestyAllegianceGood MannersMoral Virtues
Book:A Treatise of Human Nature
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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.”

WorldMindHumansPastJoyVirtueMankindSourceVicesChiefsHuman LifePeace Of MindSensibleModerationReceptionTranquillityPast Experiences
Book:An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
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“Heaven and hell suppose two distinct species of men, the good and the bad. But the greatest part of mankind float betwixt vice and virtue.”

MenTwoHeavenHellVirtueMankindSpeciesVicesFloatsHeaven And HellVice And Virtue
Book:The Philosophical Works of David Hume ... Containing Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Essays on the Immortality of the Soul, Suicide ... &c. A New Edition
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“From the apparent usefulness of the social virtues, it has readily been inferred by sceptics, both ancient and modern, that all moral distinctions arise from education, and were, at first, invented, and afterwards encouraged ... in order to render men tractable, and subdue their natural ferocity and selfishness, which incapacitated them for society.”

MenFirstsOrderSocialNaturalMoralVirtueModernMoralityEthicsAncientAriseSelfishnessDistinctionUsefulnessScepticFerocity
Book:An Inquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
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“.. that which renders morality an active principle and constitutes virtue our happiness, and vice our misery: it is probable, I say, that this final sentence depends on some internal sense or feeling, which nature has made universal in the whole species.”

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Book:An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals: A Critical Edition
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“But, historians, and even common sense, may inform us, that, however specious these ideas of perfect equality may seem, they are really, at bottom, impracticable; and were they not so, would be extremely pernicious to human society. Render possessions ever so equal, men's different degrees of art, care, and industry will immediately break that equality. Or if you check these virtues, you reduce society to the most extreme indigence; and instead of preventing want and beggary in a few, render it unavoidable to the whole community.”

IfsMenWantHumansMayArtIdeasDifferentWholeSeemsWould BeCareCommunityPerfectCommonBreakVirtueIndustryMoralityEqualDegreesEthicsBottomPossessionExtremesChecksCommon SenseHistorianPreventingHuman SocietyPerniciousBeggary
Book:Essays and Treatises on Philosophical Subjects
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