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Quote by David Hume

“Learning has been as great a Loser by being shut up in Colleges and Cells, and secluded from the World and good Company. By that Means, every Thing of what we call Belles Lettres became totally barbarous, being cultivated by Men without any Taste of Life or Manners, and without that Liberty and Facility of Thought and Expression, which can only be acquir'd by Conversation.”

Quote by David Hume

Book:Essays Moral, Political, and Literary

Work

Essays Moral, Political, and Literary

This book is a compilation of essays that delve into a range of philosophical and political topics, offering insights into the author's perspectives on society, ethics, and governance. more

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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“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.”

Ends Moral Teach Virtue Duty Habit Morality Embrace Vices Representation Speculation Begets Deformity

Book:Moral Philosophy

Source: Moral Philosophy

“All morality depends upon our sentiments; and when any action or quality of the mind pleases us after a certain manner we say it is virtuous; and when the neglect or nonperformance of it displeases us after a like manner, we say that we lie under an obligation to perform it.”

Mind Action Lying Certain Quality Virtue Depends Morality Please Obligation Neglect Sentiments Virtuous

Book:Moral and Political Philosophy

Source: Moral and Political Philosophy

“It is evident, from their method of propagation, that a couple of cats, in fifty years, would stock a whole kingdom; and if that religious veneration were still paid them, it would, in twenty more, not only be easier in Egypt to find a god than a man, which Petronius says was the case in some parts of Italy; but the gods must at last entirely starve the men, and leave themselves neither priests nor votaries remaining.”

Source: A Dissertation on the Passions: The Natural History of Religion : a Critical Edition

“When I am convinced of any principle, it is only an idea which strikes more strongly upon me. When I give the preference to one set of arguments above another, I do nothing but decide from my feeling concerning the superiority of their influence.”

Giving Ideas Feelings Belief Principles Influence Argument Convinced Strikes Superiority Preference

Book:A Treatise of Human Nature: Top Philosophy Collections

Source: A Treatise of Human Nature: Top Philosophy Collections

“We may well ask, What causes induce us to believe in the existence of body? but 'tis vain to ask. Whether there be body or not? That is a point which we must take for granted in all our reasonings.”

Believe Wells May Body Asks Belief Causes Existence Granted Vain Reasoning

Book:A Treatise of Human Nature: Revision of Great Book

Source: A Treatise of Human Nature: Revision of Great Book

“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.”

Source: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

“Were a man, whom I know to be honest and opulent, and with whom I live in intimate friendship, to come into my house, where I am surrounded with my servants, I rest assured, that he is not to stab me before he leaves it, in order to rob me of my silver standish; and I no more suspect this event, than the falling of the house itself which is new, and solidly built and founded.--But he may have been seized with a sudden and unknown frenzy.--So may a sudden earthquake arise, and shake and tumble my house about my ears.”

Source: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: A Critical Edition

“We can conceive a thinking being to have either many or few perceptions. Suppose the mind to be reduced even below the life of anoyster. Suppose it to have only one perception, as of thirst or hunger. Consider it in that situation. Do you conceive any thing but merely that perception? Have you any notion of self or substance? If not, the addition of other perceptions can never give you that notion.”

Ifs Thinking Giving Mind Self Situation Perception Notion Hunger Substance Thirst Oysters

Book:A Treatise of Human Nature: Illustrated

Source: A Treatise of Human Nature: Illustrated

“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.”

Source: A Treatise of Human Nature

“A Tory..., since the revolution, may be defined in a few words, to be a lover of monarchy, though without abandoning liberty; anda partizan of the family of Stuart. As a Whig may be defined to be a lover of liberty though without renouncing monarchy; and a friend to the settlement in the protestant line.”

May Lines Liberty Revolution Lovers Defined Monarchy Protestants Settlement Few Words

Author:David Hume