As every inquiry which regards religion is of the utmost importance, there are two questions in particular which challenge our attention, to wit, that concerning its foundation in reason, and that concerning it origin in human nature. David Hume More Quotes by David Hume More Quotes From David Hume The supposition that the future resembles the past, is not founded on arguments of any kind, but is derived entirely from habit. David Hume words-of-wisdom kind past Reason, in a strict sense, as meaning the judgment of truth and falsehood, can never, of itself, be any motive to the will, and can have no influence but so far as it touches some passion or affection. Abstract relations of ideas are the object of curiosity, not of volition. And matters of fact, where they are neither good nor evil, where they neither excite desire nor aversion, are totally indifferent, and whether known or unknown, whether mistaken or rightly apprehended, cannot be regarded as any motive to action. David Hume passion truth ideas The most perfect philosophy of the natural kind only staves off our ignorance a little longer: as perhaps the most perfect philosophy of the moral or metaphysical kind serves only to discover larger portions of it. Thus the observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours to elude or avoid it. David Hume ignorance perfect philosophy God is an ever-present spirit guiding all that happens to a wise and holy end. David Hume spirit faith wise The bigotry of theologians is a malady which seems almost incurable. David Hume malady theologian seems Mankind are always found prodigal both of blood and treasure in the maintenance of public justice. David Hume maintenance justice blood 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 unexpected atheism order The great end of all human industry is the attainment of happiness David Hume attainment humans ends Methinks I am like a man, who having struck on many shoals, and having narrowly escap'd shipwreck in passing a small frith, has yet the temerity to put out to sea in the same leaky weather-beaten vessel, and even carries his ambition so far as to think of compassing the globe under these disadvantageous circumstances. David Hume ambition men thinking To be a philosophical sceptic is, in a man of letters, the first and most essential to being a sound, believing Christian. David Hume philosophical christian believe He sees such a desperate rapaciousness prevail; such a disregard to equity, such contempt of order, such stupid blindness to future consequences, as must immediately have the most tragical conclusion, and most terminate in destruction to the greater number, and in a total dissolution of society to the rest. David Hume stupid numbers order of the world and drudgery of business , seeks a pretense of reason to give itself a full and uncontrolled indulgence. David Hume reason giving world The chief benefit, which results from philosophy, arises in an indirect manner, and proceeds more from its secret, insensible influence, than from its immediate application. David Hume benefits secret philosophy It cannot reasonably be doubted, but a little miss, dressed in a new gown for a dancing-school ball, receives as complete enjoyment as the greatest orator, who triumphs in the splendour of his eloquence, while he governs the passions and resolutions of a numerous assembly. David Hume passion dancing school Any person seasoned with a just sense of the imperfections of natural reason, will fly to revealed truth with the greatest avidity. David Hume imperfection natural reason Human Nature is the only science of man; and yet has been hitherto the most neglected. David Hume philosophical human-nature men I cannot but bless the memory of Julius Caesar, for the great esteem he expressed for fat men and his aversion to lean ones. David Hume aversion men memories 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. David Hume few-words revolution liberty All inferences from experience... are effects of custom, not of reasoning. David Hume inference reasoning effects But I would still reply, that the knavery and folly of men are such common phenomena, that I should rather believe the most extraordinary events to arise from their concurrence, than admit of so signal a violation of the laws of nature David Hume law men believe
