“Scholastic learning and polemical divinity retarded the growth of all true knowledge.”
Knowledge
“Belief is nothing but a more vivid, lively, forcible, firm, steady conception of an object, than what the imagination alone is ever able to attain.”
AloneAll Quotes by David Hume
“The advantages found in history seem to be of three kinds, as it amuses the fancy, as it improves the understanding, and as it strengthens virtue.”
History“Human Nature is the only science of man and yet has been hitherto the most neglected.”
Nature“Heaven and hell suppose two distinct species of men, the good and the bad. But the greatest part of mankind float betwixt vice and virtue.”
Good“Nothing endears so much a friend as sorrow for his death. The pleasure of his company has not so powerful an influence.”
Death“The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny.”
Patriotism“Every wise, just, and mild government, by rendering the condition of its subjects easy and secure, will always abound most in people, as well as in commodities and riches.”
Government“There is not to be found, in all history, any miracle attested by a sufficient number of men, of such unquestioned good sense, education and learning, as to secure us against all delusion in themselves.”
Education“Men often act knowingly against their interest.”
Men“The law always limits every power it gives.”
Power“Beauty, whether moral or natural, is felt, more properly than perceived.”
Beauty“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.”
History“This avidity alone, of acquiring goods and possessions for ourselves and our nearest friends, is insatiable, perpetual, universal, and directly destructive of society.”
Alone“Any person seasoned with a just sense of the imperfections of natural reason, will fly to revealed truth with the greatest avidity.”
Truth“Truth springs from argument amongst friends.”
Truth“Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them.”
Beauty“There is a very remarkable inclination in human nature to bestow on external objects the same emotions which it observes in itself, and to find every where those ideas which are most present to it.”
Nature“The corruption of the best things gives rise to the worst.”
Best“A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker.”
Design“Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous those in philosophy only ridiculous.”
Religion