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Quote by David Hume

“Uncommon expressions are a disfigurement rather than an embellishment of discourse.”

Quote by David Hume

Author

David Hume, born on May 7, 1711, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and died on August 25, 1776, was an outstanding philosopher, historian, and economist. Known for his contributions to empiricism and skepticism, his works have had a profound impact on subsequent philosophy, economics, and psychology. more

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“That the corruption of the best thing produces the worst, is grown into a maxim, and is commonly proved, among other instances, by the pernicious effects of superstition and enthusiasm, the corruptions of true religion.”

Worst Effects Produce Corruption Instance Enthusiasm Best Things Superstitions Maxims Pernicious True Religion

Book:Hume: Political Essays

Source: Hume: Political Essays

“A delicacy of taste is favorable to love and friendship, by confining our choice to few people, and making us indifferent to the company and conversation of the greater part of men.”

People Men Choices Company Greater Taste Conversation Indifferent Our Choices Delicacy Love And Friendship

Book:Essays Moral, Political, and Literary

Source: Essays Moral, Political, and Literary

“Delicacy of taste has the same effect as delicacy of passion; it enlarges the sphere both of our happiness and our misery.”

Passion Effects Taste Misery Spheres Delicacy

Book:Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)

“Nothing is so improving to the temper as the study of the beauties either of poetry, eloquence, music, or painting.”

Study Painting Taste Temper Improving Eloquence

Book:Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)

“The greater part of mankind may be divided into two classes; that of shallow thinkers who fall short of the truth; and that of abstruse thinkers who go beyond it.”

May Two Fall Class Greater Mankind Divided Thinker Shallow

Book:Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)

“Liberty of thinking, and of expressing our thoughts, is always fatal to priestly power, and to those pious frauds on which it is commonly founded.”

Thinking Liberty Fraud Our Thoughts Pious Infallible

Book:Selected essays

Source: Selected essays

“In a vain man, the smallest spark may kindle into the greatest flame, because the materials are always prepared for it.”

Men May Materials Prepared Vanity Vain Flames Sparks Smallest Kindles

Author:David Hume

“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.”

Kind Action Passion Virtue Impossible Fame Degrees Approach Capable Sake Affection Former Vanity Latter Mixtures

Book:Essays Moral, Political, Literary: Revision of Great Book

Source: Essays Moral, Political, Literary: Revision of Great Book

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

Age Spirit Virtue

Book:Essays, Literary, Moral, and Political

Source: Essays, Literary, Moral, and Political

“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?”

Important Earth Values Virtue Sacrifice Son Fortune Rewards Genuine Ignorant Portions Mistress Celestial Recompense

Book:Selected essays

Source: Selected essays