Praise never gives us much pleasure unless it concur with our own opinion, and extol us for those qualities in which we chiefly excel. David Hume More Quotes by David Hume More Quotes From David Hume The mind is a kind of theater, where several perceptions successively make their appearence; pass, re-pass, glide away, and mingle in an infinite variety of postures and situations. David Hume philosopher perception mind He is happy whom circumstances suit his temper; but he Is more excellent who suits his temper to any circumstance. David Hume suits excellent happiness A man acquainted with history may, in some respect, be said to have lived from the beginning of the world, and to have been making continual additions to his stock of knowledge in every century. David Hume may men world All power, even the most despotic, rests ultimately on opinion. David Hume opinion When I shall be dead, the principles of which I am composed will still perform their part in the universe, and will be equally useful in the grand fabric, as when they composed this individual creature. The difference to the whole will be no greater betwixt my being in a chamber and in the open air. The one change is of more importance to me than the other; but not more so to the universe. David Hume differences principles air The fact that different cultures have different practices no more refutes [moral] objectivism than the fact that water flows in different directions in different places refutes the law of gravity David Hume practice law water Superstition is an enemy to civil liberty. David Hume atheism enemy religion The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny; flattery to treachery; standing armies to arbitrary government; and the glory of God to the temporal interest of the clergy. David Hume patriotism army government Of all the animals with which this globe is peopled, there is none towards whom nature seems, at first sight, to have exercised more cruelty than towards man, in the numberless wants and necessities with which she has loaded him, and in the slender means which she affords to the relieving these necessities. David Hume nature animal mean To hate, to love, to think, to feel, to see; all this is nothing but to perceive. David Hume philosophical hate thinking Heroism, or military glory, is much admired by the generality of mankind. They consider it as the most sublime kind of merit. Menof cool reflection are not so sanguine in their praises of it. David Hume sublime military reflection Men often act knowingly against their interest. David Hume philosophical interest men When we reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life, how despicable seem all our pursuits of happiness. David Hume uncertainty-of-life pursuit happiness Liberty of thinking, and of expressing our thoughts, is always fatal to priestly power, and to those pious frauds on which it is commonly founded. David Hume fraud liberty thinking In all matters of opinion and science ... the difference between men is ... oftener found to lie in generals than in particulars; and to be less in reality than in appearance. An explication of the terms commonly ends the controversy, and the disputants are surprised to find that they had been quarrelling, while at bottom they agreed in their judgement. David Hume science lying reality Nothing is so improving to the temper as the study of the beauties either of poetry, eloquence, music, or painting. David Hume painting study taste 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. David Hume learning college mean It is with books as with women, where a certain plainness of manner and of dress is more engaging than that glare of paint and airs and apparel which may dazzle the eye, but reaches not the affections. David Hume eye air book Eloquence, at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection, but addresses itself entirely to the desires and affections, captivating the willing hearers, and subduing their understanding. David Hume understanding reflection desire The Christian religion not only was at first attended with miracles, but even at this day cannot be believed by any reasonable person without one. David Hume miracle religious christian
