Authors:

Francis Hutcheson Quotes

Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best ends by the best means.

Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best ends by the best means.

Francis Hutcheson
Wisdom, Healing, Mean
'An Inquiry into the Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue' (1725) treatise 1, sect. 5, subsect. 16

Unalienable rights are essential limitations to all governments.

Francis Hutcheson
Philosophy, Rights, Government
Francis Hutcheson (1753). “An inquiry into the original of our ideas of beauty and virtue”, p.301

That action is best which procures the greatest happiness.

Francis Hutcheson
Happiness, Hard Work, Acting
'An Inquiry into the Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue' (1725) treatise 2, sect. 3, subsect. 8.

The ultimate notion of right is that which tends to the universal good; and when one's acting in a certain manner has this tendency he has a right thus to act.

Francis Hutcheson
Acting, Tendencies, Certain
Francis Hutcheson (1755). “A System Of Moral Philosophy: In Three Books : To which is Prefixed Some Account Of The Life, Writings, And Character Of The Author”, p.266

Many are really virtuous who cannot explain what virtue is . . . But the powers themselves in reality perform their several operations with sufficient constancy and uniformity in persons of good health whatever their opinions be about them . . .

Francis Hutcheson
Reality, Ethics, Opinion
Francis Hutcheson (1769). “An Essay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions and Affections”, p.7

You May Also Like: