Quotes · Skopia

19 quotes

A Treatise of Human Nature · 1739

★ 2.0

The great advantage of the mathematical sciences above the moral consists in this, that the ideas of the former, being sensible, are always clear and determinate.

David Hume

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 2.0

Essay

Opposing one species of superstition to another, set them a quarrelling; while we ourselves, during their fury and contention, happily make our escape, into the calm, tho' obscure, regions of philosophy.

David Hume

1757

★ 2.0

Essay

In all matters of opinion and science... The difference among men is...oftener found to lie in generals than in particulars: and to be less in reality than in appearance. An explanation 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

1758

★ 2.0

Treatise · Philosophical literature

Poets...tho' liars by profession, always endeavour to give an air of truth to their fictions.

David Hume

A Treatise of Human Nature · 1739

★ 2.1

Essay

Money... Is none of the wheels of trade: It is the oil which renders the motion of the wheels more smooth and easy.

David Hume

1752

★ 2.1

Philosophical literature

A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence.

David Hume

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 2.2

Essay

Avarice, the spur of industry, is so obstinate a passion, and works its way through so many real dangers and difficulties, that it is not likely to be scared by an imaginary danger, which is so small, that it scarcely admits of calculation.

David Hume

1741

★ 3.7

Philosophical literature

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. Mere reason is insufficient to convince us of its veracity: And whoever is moved by Faith to assent to it, is conscious of a continued miracle in his own person, which subverts all the principles of his understanding, and gives him a determination to believe what is most contrary to custom and experience.

David Hume

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 3.7

Philosophical literature

If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning, concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: For it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.

David Hume

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 3.7

Treatise · Philosophical literature

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.

David Hume

A Treatise of Human Nature · 1739

★ 3.8

Essay

Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them.

David Hume

1758

★ 3.8

Essay

A propensity to hope and joy is real riches: One to fear and sorrow, real poverty.

David Hume

1758

★ 3.8

Essay

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

David Hume

1776

★ 3.8

Essay

In all ages of the world, priests have been enemies to liberty.

David Hume

1741

★ 3.9

Essay

The heart of man is made to reconcile contradictions.

David Hume

1741

★ 3.9

Philosophical literature

Custom, then, is the great guide of human life.

David Hume

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding · 1748

★ 3.9

Essay

In contriving any system of government, and fixing the several checks and controls of the constitution, every man ought to be supposed a knave, and to have no other end, in all his actions, than private interest.

David Hume

Essays, Moral and Political · 1741

★ 4.4

Treatise · Philosophical literature

Of all the animals, with which this globe is peopled, there is none towards whom nature seems, at first sight, to have exercis'd 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

A Treatise of Human Nature · 1739

★ 5.2

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