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David Hume Quotes

53 Insightful Quotes By David Hume, Philosopher Extraordinaire

Famous As: Best Known for His Highly Influential System of Philosophical Empiricism, Scepticism and Naturalism

Born On: 1711

Died On: 1776

Born In: Edinburgh, Scotland

Died At Age: 65

David Hume was a Scottish essayist, historian, philosopher and historian who lived in the 18th century and is famous for having been the pioneer of many path breaking ideas in philosophy including scepticism and empiricism. He had also introduced the concept of naturalism in philosophy. Hume studied at the University of Edinburgh but eventually quit since he did not feel that his professors had anything new to teach him and devoted his time to the study of philosophy. One of his early works, ‘A Treatise of Human Nature’, which sought to learn more about the human nature, made him popular as one of the leading philosophers of the time. Some of his other notable works include ‘Essays, Moral, Political and Literary’, ‘An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding’, ‘Four Dissertations’, ‘The Natural History of Religion’, ‘My Own Life’ and ‘An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals’ among others. Some of his most well known and path breaking ideas include ‘Science of Man’, ‘Bundle Theory’,’ Association of Ideas’, ‘Problem of Causation’, ‘Is-Ought Problem’ and ‘Induction’. It is not a surprise then that Hume is often regarded as being one of the most influential figures in the development of what came to be known as 'Western Thought'. His essays, books and writings have a large readership. The below collection of David Hume's most famous quotes have been excerpted from his writings, papers and thoughts. We bring to you a collection of sayings and quotes by David Hume on rationality, superstition, pride, doubt, facts, proportion, assurance, beauty, beholder, evidence, selfishness, sentiment, politics and infinity.

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Philosophers

Intellectuals & Academics

Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.

Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.
David Hume

Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.

Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.
David Hume

No man ever threw away life while it was worth keeping.

No man ever threw away life while it was worth keeping.
Life
David Hume

Reading and sauntering and lounging and dosing, which I call thinking, is my supreme Happiness.

Reading and sauntering and lounging and dosing, which I call thinking, is my supreme Happiness.
Happiness I
David Hume

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.
David Hume

He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper, but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to his circumstance.

He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper, but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to his circumstance.
David Hume

The life of man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.

The life of man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.
Life
David Hume

The truth springs from arguments amongst friends.

The truth springs from arguments amongst friends.
Friends
David Hume

When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities.

When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities.
Alone
David Hume

Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still a man.

Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still a man.
David Hume

It is an absurdity to believe that the Deity has human passions, and one of the lowest of human passions, a restless appetite for applause

It is an absurdity to believe that the Deity has human passions, and one of the lowest of human passions, a restless appetite for applause
Believe
David Hume

...no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavors to establish.

...no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavors to establish.
Miracle
David Hume

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.
Never
David Hume

Liberty of any kind is never lost all at once.

Liberty of any kind is never lost all at once.
Never
David Hume

Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them

Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them
David Hume

To be a philosophical Sceptic is the first and most essential step towards being a sound, believing Christian.

To be a philosophical Sceptic is the first and most essential step towards being a sound, believing Christian.
David Hume

Any pride or haughtiness, is displeasing to us, merely because it shocks our own pride, and leads us by sympathy into comparison, which causes the disagreeable passion of humility.

Any pride or haughtiness, is displeasing to us, merely because it shocks our own pride, and leads us by sympathy into comparison, which causes the disagreeable passion of humility.
David Hume

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.

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.
David Hume

The identity that we ascribe to things is only a fictitious one, established by the mind, not a peculiar nature belonging to what we’re talking about.

The identity that we ascribe to things is only a fictitious one, established by the mind, not a peculiar nature belonging to what we’re talking about.
Nature
David Hume

The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian

The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian
Heart
David Hume

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

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

A wise man apportions his beliefs to the evidence.

A wise man apportions his beliefs to the evidence.
David Hume

A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker.

A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker.
David Hume

In public affairs men are often better pleased that the truth, though known to everybody, should be wrapped up under a decent cover than if it were exposed in open daylight to the eyes of all the world.

In public affairs men are often better pleased that the truth, though known to everybody, should be wrapped up under a decent cover than if it were exposed in open daylight to the eyes of all the world.
David Hume