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Top 56 David Hume Quotes (PHILOSOPHY)

Top 10 Most Famous David Hume Quotes (BEST)

Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.Pin
Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.
There is no such thing as freedom of choice unless there is freedom to refuse.Pin
There is no such thing as freedom of choice unless there is freedom to refuse.
He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances.Pin
He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances.
A propensity to hope and joy is real riches; one to fear and sorrow, real poverty.Pin
A propensity to hope and joy is real riches; one to fear and sorrow, real poverty.
Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.Pin
Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.
Reading and sauntering and lounging and dosing, which I call thinking, is my supreme happiness.Pin
Reading and sauntering and lounging and dosing, which I call thinking, is my supreme happiness.
A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence.Pin
A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence.
No man ever threw away life while it was worth keeping.Pin
No man ever threw away life while it was worth keeping.
When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken.Pin
When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken.
That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will rise.Pin
That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will rise.

9 Wise David Hume Quotes (WISDOM)

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.Pin
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.
Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still a man.Pin
Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still a man.
The most lively thought is still inferior to the dullest sensation.Pin
The most lively thought is still inferior to the dullest sensation.
The truth springs from arguments amongst friends.Pin
The truth springs from arguments amongst friends.
Character is the result of a system of stereotyped principals.Pin
Character is the result of a system of stereotyped principals.
All knowledge degenerates into probability.Pin
All knowledge degenerates into probability.
It is to restrain [others’] selfishness that men… distinguish between their own goods and those of others.Pin
It is to restrain [others’] selfishness that men… distinguish between their own goods and those of others.
What a peculiar privilege has this little agitation of the brain which we call 'thought'.Pin
What a peculiar privilege has this little agitation of the brain which we call ‘thought’.
But such is the nature of the human mind, that it always lays hold on every mind that approaches it.Pin
But such is the nature of the human mind, that it always lays hold on every mind that approaches it.

7 David Hume Quotes About Life

“Nothing appears more surprising to those, who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few; and the implicit submission, with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers.”

David Hume
When we reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life, how despicable seem all our pursuits of happiness.Pin
When we reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life, how despicable seem all our pursuits of happiness.
It's when we start working together that the real healing takes place... it's when we start spilling our sweat, and not our blood.Pin
It’s when we start working together that the real healing takes place… it’s when we start spilling our sweat, and not our blood.
But the life of a man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.Pin
But the life of a man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.
To hate, to love, to think, to feel, to see; all this is nothing but to perceive.Pin
To hate, to love, to think, to feel, to see; all this is nothing but to perceive.
It is not reason which is the guide of life, but custom.Pin
It is not reason which is the guide of life, but custom.
The great end of all human industry is the attainment of happiness.Pin
The great end of all human industry is the attainment of happiness.

8 David Hume Quotes that will Make You Think

A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker.Pin
A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker.
When the critic has no delicacy, he judges without any distinction, and is only affected by the grosser and more palpable qualities of the object.Pin
When the critic has no delicacy, he judges without any distinction, and is only affected by the grosser and more palpable qualities of the object.
It is harder to avoid censure than to gain applause.Pin
It is harder to avoid censure than to gain applause.
Let these generous sentiments be supposed ever so weak; let them be insufficient to move even a hand or finger of our body.Pin
Let these generous sentiments be supposed ever so weak; let them be insufficient to move even a hand or finger of our body.
Men often act knowingly against their interest.Pin
Men often act knowingly against their interest.
No amount of observations of white swans can allow the inference that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion.Pin
No amount of observations of white swans can allow the inference that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion.
The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian.Pin
The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian.
We speak not strictly and philosophically when we talk of the combat of passion and of reason.Pin
We speak not strictly and philosophically when we talk of the combat of passion and of reason.

6 David Hume Philosophy Quotes

Abstract relations of ideas are the object of curiosity, not of volition.Pin
Abstract relations of ideas are the object of curiosity, not of volition.
Disbelief in futurity loosens in a great measure the ties of morality, and may be for that reason pernicious to the peace of civil society.Pin
Disbelief in futurity loosens in a great measure the ties of morality, and may be for that reason pernicious to the peace of civil society.
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.Pin
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.
It is possible for the same thing both to be and not to be.Pin
It is possible for the same thing both to be and not to be.
The richest genius, like the most fertile soil, when uncultivated, shoots up into the rankest weeds.Pin
The richest genius, like the most fertile soil, when uncultivated, shoots up into the rankest weeds.
To philosopher and historian the madness and imbecile wickedness of mankind ought to appear ordinary events.Pin
To philosopher and historian the madness and imbecile wickedness of mankind ought to appear ordinary events.

3 David Hume Quotes on Freedom and Liberty

“Slavery has so frightful an aspect to men accustomed to freedom, that it must steal upon them by degrees, and must disguise itself in a thousand shapes, in order to be received.”

David Hume
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once.Pin
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once.
Hypothetical liberty is allowed to everyone who is not a prisoner and in chains.Pin
Hypothetical liberty is allowed to everyone who is not a prisoner and in chains.

4 David Hume Quotes on Power and Governing

The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny.Pin
The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny.
Nothing is more surprising than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.Pin
Nothing is more surprising than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.
All power, even the most despotic, rests ultimately on opinion.Pin
All power, even the most despotic, rests ultimately on opinion.
How could politics be a science, if laws and forms of government had not a uniform influence upon societyPin
How could politics be a science, if laws and forms of government had not a uniform influence upon society?

9 David Hume Quotes on Religion

“Epicurus‘s old questions are still unanswered: Is he (God) willing to prevent evil, but not able? then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? then whence evil?”

David Hume
Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.Pin
Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.
When I hear that a man is religious, I conclude he is a rascal!Pin
When I hear that a man is religious, I conclude he is a rascal!
No human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any such system of religion.Pin
No human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any such system of religion.
A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion.Pin
A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion.
Mohammed praises [instances of] tretchery, inhumanity, cruelty, revenge, and bigotry that are utterly incompatible with civilized society.Pin
Mohammed praises [instances of] tretchery, inhumanity, cruelty, revenge, and bigotry that are utterly incompatible with civilized society.
Superstition is an enemy to civil liberty.Pin
Superstition is an enemy to civil liberty.
It is an absurdity to believe that the Deity has human passions, and one of the lowest of human passions, a restless appetite for applause.Pin
It is an absurdity to believe that the Deity has human passions, and one of the lowest of human passions, a restless appetite for applause.
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.Pin
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.
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(MUST READ) A Treatise of Human Nature

A Treatise of Human NaturePin
A Treatise of Human Nature

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Top David Hume Quotes (PHILOSOPHY) - Gracious QuotesPin
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