It is not reason which is the guide of life, but custom. David Hume More Quotes by David Hume More Quotes From David Hume 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. David Hume cat couple religious 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. David Hume quality mind lying Avarice, the spur of industry. David Hume avarice spurs industry 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. David Hume ties belief may 'Tis certain that a serious attention to the sciences and liberal arts softens and humanizes the temper, and cherishes those fine emotions in which true virtue and honor consist. It rarely, very rarely happens that a man of taste and learning is not, at least, an honest man, whatever frailties may attend him. David Hume honesty science art The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder. David Hume gazing examination superstitions In all determinations of morality, this circumstance of public utility is ever principally in view; and wherever disputes arise, either in philosophy or common life, concerning the bounds of duty, the questions cannot, by any means, be decided with greater certainty, than by ascertaining, on any side, the true interests of mankind. If any false opinion, embraced from appearances, has been found to prevail; as soon as farther experience and sounder reasoning have given us juster notions of human affairs, we retract our first sentiment, and adjust anew the boundaries of moral good and evil. David Hume determination philosophy mean ..all arguments concerning existence are founded on the relation of cause and effect; that our knowledge of that relation is derived entirely from experience; and all our experimental conclusions proceed upon the supposition that the future will be conformable to the past. .... Without the influence of custom, we should be entirely ignorant of every matter of fact beyond what is immediately present to the memory and senses. David Hume words-of-wisdom memories past Grief and disappointment give rise to anger, anger to envy, envy to malice, and malice to grief again, till the whole circle be completed. David Hume circles grief disappointment In ancient times, bodily strength and dexterity, being of greater use and importance in war, was also much more esteemed and valued, than at present. ... In short, the different ranks of men are, in a great measure, regulated by riches. David Hume political men war Scholastic learning and polemical divinity retarded the growth of all true knowledge. David Hume divinity philosophical growth 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. David Hume feelings giving ideas Every court of criminal justice must have the power of correcting the greatest and dangerous of all abuses of the forms of law - that of the protracted imprisonment of the accused, untried, perhaps not intended ever to be tried, it may be, not informed of the nature of the charge against him, or the name of the accuser. David Hume law names justice That the sun shines tomorrow is a judgement that is as true as the contrary judgement. David Hume judgement shining sun Let us consider what we call vicious luxury. No gratification, however sensual, can of itself be esteemed vicious. A gratification is only vicious when it engrosses all a man's expense, and leaves no ability for such acts of duty and generosity as are required by his situation and fortune. The same care and toil that raise a dish of peas at Christmas would give bread to a whole family during six months. David Hume luxury generosity men Nothing is more dangerous to reason than the flights of the imagination and nothing has been the occasion of more mistakes among philosophers. David Hume philosopher imagination mistake Few enjoyments are given from the open and liberal hand of nature; but by art, labor and industry we can extract them in great abundance. Hence, the ideas of property become necessary in all civil society. David Hume hands ideas art A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker. David Hume philosophical design stupid Anticipation of pleasure is, in itself, a very considerable pleasure. David Hume pleasure anticipation .. that a rule, which, in speculation, may seem the most advantageous to society, may yet be found, in practice, totally pernicious and destructive. David Hume ethics practice may
