Nothing more powerfully excites any affection than to conceal some part of its object, by throwing it into a kind of shade, whichat the same time that it shows enough to prepossess us in favour of the object, leaves still some work for the imagination.

David Hume

Categorized in : Imagination Passion Shade

The supposition that the future resembles the past, is not founded on arguments of any kind, but is derived entirely from habit.

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.

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.

ignorance perfect philosophy

God is an ever-present spirit guiding all that happens to a wise... by David Hume

God is an ever-present spirit guiding all that happens to a wise and holy end.

spirit faith wise

The bigotry of theologians is a malady which seems almost incurab... by David Hume

The bigotry of theologians is a malady which seems almost incurable.

malady theologian seems

Mankind are always found prodigal both of blood and treasure in t... by David Hume

Mankind are always found prodigal both of blood and treasure in the maintenance of public justice.

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.

unexpected atheism order

The great end of all human industry is the attainment of happines... by David Hume

The great end of all human industry is the attainment of happiness

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.

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.

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.

stupid numbers order

of the world and drudgery of business , seeks a pretense of reason to give itself a full and uncontrolled indulgence.

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.

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.

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.

imperfection natural reason

Human Nature is the only science of man; and yet has been hithert... by David Hume

Human Nature is the only science of man; and yet has been hitherto the most neglected.

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.

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.

few-words revolution liberty

All inferences from experience... are effects of custom, not of r... by David Hume

All inferences from experience... are effects of custom, not of reasoning.

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

law men believe