Top 25 Quotes by David Hume of 383 - Page 15

Kitsch is: a species of beauty, which, as it is florid and superficial, pleases at first; but soon palls upon the taste, and is rejected with disdain, at least rated at much lower value.

Kitsch is: a species of beauty, which, as it is florid and superficial, pleases at first; but soon palls upon the taste, and is rejected with disdain, at least rated at much lower value.

David Hume

Art, Kitsch, Taste

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

Philosophy, Secret, Benefits

David Hume (1825). “Essays and treatises on several subjects: essays, moral, political and literary”, p.167

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, School, Dancing

'Essays' (1741-2) 'The Sceptic'

When any opinion leads us into absurdities, 'tis certainly false; but 'tis not certain an opinion is false, because 'tis of dangerous consequence.

David Hume

Philosophical, Opinion, Certain

David Hume, Geoffrey Sayre-McCord “Moral Philosophy”, Hackett Publishing

[A persons] utmost art and industry can never equal the meanest of nature's productions, either for beauty or value.

David Hume

Art, Nature, Mortification

David Hume (1875). “Essays Moral, Political, and Literary”, p.197

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

Liberty, Revolution, Few Words

One would appear ridiculous who would say, that it is only probable the sun will rise to-morrow, or that all men must die; thoughit is plain we have no further assurance of these facts than what experience affords us.

David Hume

Men, Experience, Sun

David Hume (1963). “The Philosophy of David Hume”

If suicide be supposed a crime, it is only cowardice can impel us to it. If it be no crime, both prudence and courage should engage us to rid ourselves at once of existence when it becomes a burden. It is the only way that we can then be useful to society, by setting an example which, if imitated, would preserve every one his chance for happiness in life, and would effectually free him from all danger or misery.

David Hume

Suicide, Example, Way

David Hume (2006). “Essays: Moral, Political and Literary”, p.595, Cosimo, Inc.

The mention of one apartment in a building naturally introduces an enquiry or discourse concerning the others: and if we think ofa wound, we can scarcely forbear reflecting on the pain which follows it.

David Hume

Pain, Thinking, Reflection

David Hume, Eric Steinberg (1992). “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding; [with] A Letter from a Gentleman to His Friend in Edinburgh; [and] An Abstract of a Treatise of Human Nature”, p.14, Hackett Publishing

The conduct of a man, who studies philosophy in this careless manner, is more truly sceptical than that of any one, who feeling inhimself an inclination to it, is yet so over-whelm'd with doubts and scruples, as totally to reject it. A true sceptic will be diffident of his philosophical doubts, as well as of his philosophical conviction; and will never refuse any innocent satisfaction, which offers itself, upon account of either of them.

David Hume

Philosophy, Philosophical, Men

David Hume (2012). “A Treatise of Human Nature”, p.221, Courier Corporation

These arguments on each side (and many more might be produced) are so plausible, that I am apt to suspect, they may, the one as well as the other, be solid and satisfactory, and that reason and sentiment concur in almost all moral determinations and conclusions.

David Hume

Determination, May, Might

David Hume, J. B. Schneewind (1983). “An Enquiry Concerning The Principles of Morals”, p.15, Hackett Publishing

In all the events of life, we ought still to preserve our scepticism. If we believe that fire warms, or water refreshes, it is only because it costs us too much pains to think otherwise.

David Hume

Pain, Believe, Thinking

1739 A Treatise of Human Nature, bk.1, pt.4, section 7.

We make allowance for a certain degree of selfishness in men; because we know it to be inseparable from human nature, and inherent in our frame and constitution. By this reflexion we correct those sentiments of blame, which so naturally arise upon any opposition.

David Hume

Men, Selfishness, Degrees

David Hume (2003). “A Treatise of Human Nature”, p.415, Courier Corporation

It is on opinion only that government is founded; and this maxim extends to the most despotic and most military governments, as well as to the most free and most popular.

David Hume

Military, Government, Opinion

David Hume, Knud Haakonssen (1994). “Hume: Political Essays”, p.30, Cambridge University Press

Nothing is so convenient as a decisive argument ... which must at least silence the most arrogant bigotry and superstition, and free us from their impertinent solicitations. I flatter myself, that I have discovered an argument ... which, if just, will, with the wise and learned, be an everlasting check to all kinds of superstitious delusion, and consequently, will be useful as long as the world endures. For so long, I presume, will the accounts of miracles and prodigies be found in all history, sacred and profane.

David Hume

Wise, Long, Silence

David Hume, Eric Steinberg (1992). “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding; [with] A Letter from a Gentleman to His Friend in Edinburgh; [and] An Abstract of a Treatise of Human Nature”, p.73, Hackett Publishing

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

David Hume (2010). “Moral and Political Philosophy”, p.221, Simon and Schuster

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

Ideas, Giving, Feelings

David Hume (2015). “A Treatise of Human Nature: Top Philosophy Collections”, p.87, 谷月社

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

Men, Luxury, Generosity

David Hume, Stephen Copley, Andrew Edgar (2008). “Selected Essays”, p.176, Oxford University Press

We may conclude, therefore, that, in order to establish laws for the regulation of property, we must be acquainted with the nature and situation of man; must reject appearances, which may be false, though specious; and must search for those rules, which are, on the whole, most useful and beneficial.

David Hume

Men, Order, Law

David Hume, J. B. Schneewind (1983). “An Enquiry Concerning The Principles of Morals”, p.28, Hackett Publishing

I have written on all sorts of subjects... yet I have no enemies; except indeed all the Whigs, all the Tories, and all the Christians.

David Hume

Christian, Enemy, Subjects

"Lives of Men of Letters and Science, who Flourished in the Time of George III". Book by Baron Henry Brougham, 1845.

Every disastrous accident alarms us, and sets us on enquiries concerning the principles whence it arose: Apprehensions spring up with regard to futurity: And the mind, sunk into diffidence, terror, and melancholy, has recourse to every method of appeasing those secret intelligent powers, on whom our fortune is supposed entirely to depend.

David Hume

Spring, Intelligent, Secret

David Hume (1788). “An inquiry concerning human understanding. A dissertation on the passions. An inquiry concerning the principles of morals. The natural history of religion”, p.374

If refined sense, and exalted sense, be not so useful as common sense, their rarity, their novelty, and the nobleness of their objects, make some compensation, and render them the admiration of mankind.

David Hume

Common Sense, Novelty, Admiration

David Hume, J. B. Schneewind (1983). “An Enquiry Concerning The Principles of Morals”, p.56, Hackett Publishing

Nothing is more favorable to the rise of politeness and learning, than a number of neighboring and independent states, connected together by commerce and policy.

David Hume

Independent, Numbers, Together

David Hume (1854). “Philosophical works”, p.127